Psalm 124–126

Psalm 124

THE LORD IS ON OUR SIDE

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 If the Lord had not been on our side—

let Israel say—

2 if the Lord had not been on our sidey

when people attacked us,z

3 then they would have swallowed us alive

in their burning anger against us.aa

4 Then the water would have engulfed us;

the torrent would have swept over us;

5 the raging water would have swept over us.ab

6 Blessed be the Lord,

who has not let us be ripped apart by their teeth.ac

7 We have escaped like a bird from the hunter’s net;

the net is torn, and we have escaped.ad

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.ae

Psalm 125

ISRAEL’S STABILITY

A song of ascents.

1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion.

It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.a

2 The mountains surround Jerusalem

and the Lord surrounds his people,

both now and forever.b

3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain

over the land allotted to the righteous,

so that the righteous will not apply their hands to injustice.c

4 Do what is good, Lord, to the good,

to those whose hearts are upright.d

5 But as for those who turn aside to crooked ways,

the Lord will banish them with the evildoers.e

Peace be with Israel.f

Psalm 126

ZION’S RESTORATION

A song of ascents.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,A

we were like those who dream.g

2 Our mouths were filled with laughter then,h

and our tongues with shouts of joy.i

Then they said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”j

3 The Lord had done great things for us;

we were joyful.k

4 Restore our fortunes,B Lord,

like watercourses in the Negev.l

5 Those who sow in tears

will reap with shouts of joy.m

6 Though one goes along weeping,

carrying the bag of seed,

he will surely come back with shouts of joy,

carrying his sheaves.n