Psalm 126:title–127:5

A song for going up to worship. 

¹When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, 

it was as if we were dreaming. 

²Then our mouths were filled with laughter 

and our tongues with joyful songs. 

Then the nations said, 

“The Lord has done spectacular things for them.” 

³The Lord has done spectacular things for us. 

We are overjoyed. 

⁴Restore our fortunes, O Lord, 

as you restore streams ⸤to dry riverbeds⸥ in the Negev. 

⁵Those who cry while they plant 

will joyfully sing while they harvest. 

⁶The person who goes out weeping, carrying his bag of seed, 

will come home singing, carrying his bundles of grain. 

Psalm 127

A song by Solomon for going up to worship. 

¹If the Lord does not build the house, 

it is useless for the builders to work on it. 

If the Lord does not protect a city, 

it is useless for the guard to stay alert. 

²It is useless to work hard for the food you eat 

by getting up early and going to bed late. 

The Lord gives ⸤food⸥ to those he loves while they sleep. 

³Children are an inheritance from the Lord. 

They are a reward from him. 

⁴The children born to a man when he is young 

are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. 

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

He will not be put to shame 

when he speaks with his enemies in the city gate.