Psalm 126
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.
2 Then (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.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.
4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.
5 (D)Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
6 He who continually goes [c]forth weeping,
Bearing [d]seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again [e]with (E)rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
Footnotes
- Psalm 126:1 Those of the captivity
- Psalm 126:2 Gentiles
- Psalm 126:6 to and fro
- Psalm 126:6 Lit. a bag of seed for sowing
- Psalm 126:6 with shouts of joy
Psalm 127
New King James Version
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 (A)the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To (B)eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.
3 Behold, (C)children are a heritage from the Lord,
(D)The fruit of the womb is a (E)reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
5 (F)Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
(G)They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
Psalm 128
New King James Version
Blessings of Those Who Fear the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
128 Blessed (A)is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.
2 (B)When you eat the [a]labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be (C)well with you.
3 Your wife shall be (D)like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your (E)children (F)like olive plants
All around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.
5 (G)The Lord bless you out of Zion,
And may you see the good of Jerusalem
All the days of your life.
6 Yes, may you (H)see your children’s children.
(I)Peace be upon Israel!
Footnotes
- Psalm 128:2 Fruit of the labor
Psalm 129
New King James Version
Song of Victory over Zion’s Enemies
A Song of Ascents.
129 “Many a time they have (A)afflicted[a] me from (B)my youth,”
(C)Let Israel now say—
2 “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth;
Yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed on my back;
They made their furrows long.”
4 The Lord is righteous;
He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.
5 Let all those who hate Zion
Be put to shame and turned back.
6 Let them be as the (D)grass on the housetops,
Which withers before it grows up,
7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand,
Nor he who binds sheaves, his [b]arms.
8 Neither let those who pass by them say,
(E)“The blessing of the Lord be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord!”
Footnotes
- Psalm 129:1 persecuted
- Psalm 129:7 armsful, lit. bosom
Psalm 130
New King James Version
Waiting for the Redemption of the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
130 Out (A)of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
3 (B)If You, Lord, should [a]mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could (C)stand?
4 But there is (D)forgiveness with You,
That (E)You may be feared.
5 (F)I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
And (G)in His word I do hope.
6 (H)My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning—
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
7 (I)O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For (J)with the Lord there is mercy,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And (K)He shall redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.
Footnotes
- Psalm 130:3 take note of
Psalm 131
New King James Version
Simple Trust in the Lord
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
131 Lord, my heart is not [a]haughty,
Nor my eyes [b]lofty.
(A)Neither do I [c]concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too [d]profound for me.
2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
(B)Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 (C)O Israel, hope in the Lord
From this time forth and forever.
Footnotes
- Psalm 131:1 Proud
- Psalm 131:1 Arrogant
- Psalm 131:1 Lit. walk in
- Psalm 131:1 difficult
Psalm 132
New King James Version
The Eternal Dwelling of God in Zion
A Song of Ascents.
132 Lord, remember David
And all his afflictions;
2 How he swore to the Lord,
(A)And vowed to (B)the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house,
Or go up to the comfort of my bed;
4 I will (C)not give sleep to my eyes
Or slumber to my eyelids,
5 Until I (D)find a place for the Lord,
A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 Behold, we heard of it (E)in Ephrathah;
(F)We found it (G)in the fields of [a]the woods.
7 Let us go into His tabernacle;
(H)Let us worship at His footstool.
8 (I)Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place,
You and (J)the ark of Your strength.
9 Let Your priests (K)be clothed with righteousness,
And let Your saints shout for joy.
10 For Your servant David’s sake,
Do not turn away the face of Your [b]Anointed.
11 (L)The Lord has sworn in truth to David;
He will not turn from it:
“I will set upon your throne (M)the [c]fruit of your body.
12 If your sons will keep My covenant
And My testimony which I shall teach them,
Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore.”
13 (N)For the Lord has chosen Zion;
He has desired it for His [d]dwelling place:
14 “This(O) is My resting place forever;
Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
15 (P)I will abundantly bless her [e]provision;
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 (Q)I will also clothe her priests with salvation,
(R)And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17 (S)There I will make the [f]horn of David grow;
(T)I will prepare a lamp for My [g]Anointed.
18 His enemies I will (U)clothe with shame,
But upon Himself His crown shall flourish.”
Footnotes
- Psalm 132:6 Heb. Jaar, lit. Woods
- Psalm 132:10 Commissioned One, Heb. Messiah
- Psalm 132:11 offspring
- Psalm 132:13 home
- Psalm 132:15 supply of food
- Psalm 132:17 Government
- Psalm 132:17 Heb. Messiah
Psalm 133
New King James Version
Blessed Unity of the People of God
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For (A)brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of (B)Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For (C)there the Lord commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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