Psalm 127–130

Psalm 127

THE BLESSING OF THE LORD

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

1 Unless the Lord builds a house,

its builders labor over it in vain;o

unless the Lord watches over a city,

the watchman stays alert in vain.p

2 In vain you get up early and stay up late,

working hard to have enough food—

yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves.C,q

3 Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,

offspring, a reward.r

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the sons born in one’s youth.s

5 Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them.t

They will never be put to shame

when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.u

Psalm 128

BLESSINGS FOR THOSE WHO FEAR GOD

A song of ascents.

1 How happy is everyone who fears the Lord,

who walks in his ways!v

2 You will surely eat

what your hands have worked for.w

You will be happy,

and it will go well for you.x

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine

within your house,

your children, like young olive trees

around your table.y

4 In this very way

the man who fears the Lord

will be blessed.z

5 May the Lord bless you from Zion,

so that you will see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your lifeaa

6 and will see your children’s children!

Peace be with Israel.ab

Psalm 129

PROTECTION OF THE OPPRESSED

A song of ascents.

1 Since my youth they have often attacked me—

let Israel say—

2 since my youth they have often attacked me,

but they have not prevailed against me.ac

3 Plowmen plowed over my back;

they made their furrows long.ad

4 The Lord is righteous;

he has cut the ropes of the wicked.a

5 Let all who hate Zion

be driven back in disgrace.b

6 Let them be like grass on the rooftops,

which withers before it grows upA,c

7 and can’t even fill the hands of the reaper

or the arms of the one who binds sheaves.d

8 Then none who pass by will say,

“May the Lord’s blessing be on you.

We bless you in the name of the Lord.”e

Psalm 130

AWAITING REDEMPTION

A song of ascents.

1 Out of the depths I call to you, Lord!f

2 Lord, listen to my voice;

let your ears be attentive

to my cry for help.g

3 Lord, if you kept an account of iniquities,

Lord, who could stand?h

4 But with you there is forgiveness,

so that you may be revered.i

5 I wait for the Lord; I wait

and put my hope in his word.j

6 I wait for the Lord

more than watchmen for the morning—

more than watchmen for the morning.k

7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord.l

For there is faithful love with the Lord,

and with him is redemption in abundance.m

8 And he will redeem Israel

from all its iniquities.n