126 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.

The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 126

A Harvest of Joy

A Song of Ascents.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,[a]
    we were like those who dream.(A)
Then our mouth was filled with laughter
    and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”(B)
The Lord has done great things for us,
    and we rejoiced.(C)

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
    like the watercourses in the Negeb.(D)
May those who sow in tears
    reap with shouts of joy.(E)
Those who go out weeping,
    bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
    carrying their sheaves.

Footnotes

  1. 126.1 Or brought back those who returned to Zion

A Prayer for Deliverance

126 When the Lord brought us back to Jerusalem,[a]
    it was like a dream!
How we laughed, how we sang for joy!
    Then the other nations said about us,
    “The Lord did great things for them.”
Indeed he did great things for us;
    how happy we were!

Lord, make us prosperous again,[b]
    just as the rain brings water back to dry riverbeds.
Let those who wept as they planted their crops,
    gather the harvest with joy!

Those who wept as they went out carrying the seed
    will come back singing for joy,
    as they bring in the harvest.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 126:1 brought us back to Jerusalem; or made Jerusalem prosperous again.
  2. Psalm 126:4 make us prosperous again; or take us back to our land.