Psalm 126-127

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Psalm 126

A Harvest of Joy

A Song of Ascents.

¹When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,^[a]
    we were like those who dream.^(A)
²Then 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)
³The Lord has done great things for us,
    and we rejoiced.^(C)

⁴Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
    like the watercourses in the Negeb.^(D)
⁵May those who sow in tears
    reap with shouts of joy.^(E)
⁶Those who go out weeping,
    bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
    carrying their sheaves.

Psalm 127

God’s Blessings in the Home

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

¹Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
    the guard keeps watch in vain.^(F)
²It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil,
    for he gives sleep to his beloved.^[b]^(G)

³Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,
    the fruit of the womb a reward.^(H)
⁴Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
    are the sons of one’s youth.
⁵Happy is the man who has
    his quiver full of them.
He shall not be put to shame
    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.^(I)

Footnotes

126.1 Or brought back those who returned to Zion
127.2 Or for he provides for his beloved during sleep

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

Psalm 126-127 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition