Psalm 125-126

New International Version

Psalm 125

A song of ascents.

¹Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,^(A)
    which cannot be shaken^(B) but endures forever.
²As the mountains surround Jerusalem,^(C)
    so the Lord surrounds^(D) his people
    both now and forevermore.

³The scepter^(E) of the wicked will not remain^(F)
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.^(G)

⁴Lord, do good^(H) to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.^(I)
⁵But those who turn^(J) to crooked ways^(K)
the Lord will banish^(L) with the evildoers.

Peace be on Israel.^(M)

Psalm 126

A song of ascents.

¹When the Lord restored^(N) the fortunes of^[a] Zion,
    we were like those who dreamed.^[b]
²Our mouths were filled with laughter,^(O)
    our tongues with songs of joy.^(P)
Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things^(Q) for them.”
³The Lord has done great things^(R) for us,
    and we are filled with joy.^(S)

⁴Restore our fortunes,^[c]^(T) Lord,
    like streams in the Negev.^(U)
⁵Those who sow with tears^(V)
    will reap^(W) with songs of joy.^(X)
⁶Those who go out weeping,^(Y)
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them.

Footnotes

Psalm 126:1 Or Lord brought back the captives to
Psalm 126:1 Or those restored to health
Psalm 126:4 Or Bring back our captives

Job 25-26

New International Version

Bildad

25 Then Bildad the Shuhite^(A) replied:

²“Dominion and awe belong to God;^(B)
    he establishes order in the heights of heaven.^(C)
³Can his forces be numbered?
    On whom does his light not rise?^(D)
⁴How then can a mortal be righteous before God?
    How can one born of woman be pure?^(E)
⁵If even the moon^(F) is not bright
    and the stars are not pure in his eyes,^(G)
⁶how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot—
    a human being,^(H) who is only a worm!”^(I)

Job

26 Then Job replied:

²“How you have helped the powerless!^(J)
    How you have saved the arm that is feeble!^(K)
³What advice you have offered to one without wisdom!
    And what great insight^(L) you have displayed!
⁴Who has helped you utter these words?
    And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?^(M)

⁵“The dead are in deep anguish,^(N)
    those beneath the waters and all that live in them.
⁶The realm of the dead^(O) is naked before God;
    Destruction^[a]^(P) lies uncovered.^(Q)
⁷He spreads out the northern skies^(R) over empty space;
    he suspends the earth over nothing.^(S)
⁸He wraps up the waters^(T) in his clouds,^(U)
    yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.
⁹He covers the face of the full moon,
    spreading his clouds^(V) over it.
¹⁰He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters^(W)
    for a boundary between light and darkness.^(X)
¹¹The pillars of the heavens quake,^(Y)
    aghast at his rebuke.
¹²By his power he churned up the sea;^(Z)
    by his wisdom^(AA) he cut Rahab^(AB) to pieces.
¹³By his breath the skies^(AC) became fair;
    his hand pierced the gliding serpent.^(AD)
¹⁴And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
    how faint the whisper^(AE) we hear of him!^(AF)
    Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”^(AG)