Psalm 126–128

Lord, Bring Your People Back

A song for going up to worship.

126When the Lord brought the prisoners back to Jerusalem,

it seemed as if we were dreaming.

²Then we were filled with laughter,

and we sang happy songs.

Then the other nations said,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

³The Lord has done great things for us,

and we are very glad.

⁴Lord, return our prisoners again,

as you bring streams to the desert.

⁵Those who cry as they plant crops

will sing at harvest time.

⁶Those who cry

as they carry out the seeds

will return singing

and carrying bundles of grain.

All Good Things Come from God

A song for going up to worship. Of Solomon.

127If the Lord doesn’t build the house,

the builders are working for nothing.

If the Lord doesn’t guard the city,

the guards are watching for nothing.

²It is no use for you to get up early

and stay up late,

working for a living.

The Lord gives sleep to those he loves.

³Children are a gift from the Lord;

babies are a reward.

⁴Children who are born to a young man

are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.

⁵Happy is the man

who has his bag full of arrows.

They will not be defeated

when they fight their enemies at the city gate.

The Happy Home

A song for going up to worship.

128Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him.

²You will enjoy what you work for,

and you will be blessed with good things.

³Your wife will give you many children,

like a vine that produces much fruit.

Your children will bring you much good,

like olive branches that produce many olives.

⁴This is how the man who respects the Lord

will be blessed.

⁵May the Lord bless you from Mount Zion;

may you enjoy the good things of Jerusalem all your life.

⁶May you see your grandchildren.

Let there be peace in Israel.