Psalm 126-130

New King James Version

A Joyful Return to Zion

A Song of Ascents.

126 When ^(A)the Lord brought back ^[a]the captivity of Zion,
^(B)We were like those who dream.
²Then ^(C)our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the ^[b]nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
³The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

⁴Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.

⁵^(D)Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
⁶He who continually goes ^[c]forth weeping,
Bearing ^[d]seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again ^[e]with ^(E)rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.

Laboring and Prospering with the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless ^(F)the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
²It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To ^(G)eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

³Behold, ^(H)children are a heritage from the Lord,
^(I)The fruit of the womb is a ^(J)reward.
⁴Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
⁵^(K)Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
^(L)They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Blessings of Those Who Fear the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

128 Blessed ^(M)is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.

²^(N)When you eat the ^[f]labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be ^(O)well with you.
³Your wife shall be ^(P)like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your ^(Q)children ^(R)like olive plants
All around your table.
⁴Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.

⁵^(S)The Lord bless you out of Zion,
And may you see the good of Jerusalem
All the days of your life.
⁶Yes, may you ^(T)see your children’s children.

^(U)Peace be upon Israel!

Song of Victory over Zion’s Enemies

A Song of Ascents.

129 “Many a time they have ^(V)afflicted^[g] me from ^(W)my youth,”
^(X)Let Israel now say—
²“Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth;
Yet they have not prevailed against me.
³The plowers plowed on my back;
They made their furrows long.”
⁴The Lord is righteous;
He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.

⁵Let all those who hate Zion
Be put to shame and turned back.
⁶Let them be as the ^(Y)grass on the housetops,
Which withers before it grows up,
⁷With which the reaper does not fill his hand,
Nor he who binds sheaves, his ^[h]arms.
⁸Neither let those who pass by them say,
^(Z)“The blessing of the Lord be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord!”

Waiting for the Redemption of the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

130 Out ^(AA)of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;
²Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.

³^(AB)If You, Lord, should ^[i]mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could ^(AC)stand?
⁴But there is ^(AD)forgiveness with You,
That ^(AE)You may be feared.

⁵^(AF)I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
And ^(AG)in His word I do hope.
⁶^(AH)My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning—
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

⁷^(AI)O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For ^(AJ)with the Lord there is mercy,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
⁸And ^(AK)He shall redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.