Psalm 121:title–134:title

A song of ascents.

¹I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

²My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven^b and earth.^c

³He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

⁴indeed, he who watches^d over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵The Lord watches over^e you—

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

⁶the sun^f will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

⁷The Lord will keep you from all harm^g—

he will watch over your life;

⁸the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.^h

Psalm 122

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹I rejoiced with those who said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

²Our feet are standing

in your gates, Jerusalem.

³Jerusalem is built like a city

that is closely compacted together.

⁴That is where the tribes go up—

the tribes of the Lord—

to praise the name of the Lord

according to the statute given to Israel.

⁵There stand the thrones for judgment,

the thrones of the house of David.

⁶Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

“May those who loveⁱ you be secure.

⁷May there be peace^j within your walls

and security within your citadels.^k”

⁸For the sake of my family and friends,

I will say, “Peace be within you.”

⁹For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

I will seek your prosperity.^l

Psalm 123

A song of ascents.

¹I lift up my eyes to you,

to you who sit enthroned^m in heaven.

²As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,

as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to the Lordⁿ our God,

till he shows us his mercy.

³Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,

for we have endured no end of contempt.

⁴We have endured no end

of ridicule from the arrogant,

of contempt from the proud.

Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹If the Lord had not been on our side—

let Israel say^o—

²if the Lord had not been on our side

when people attacked us,

³they would have swallowed us alive

when their anger flared against us;

⁴the flood^p would have engulfed us,

the torrent^q would have swept over us,

⁵the raging waters

would have swept us away.

⁶Praise be to the Lord,

who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

⁷We have escaped like a bird

from the fowler’s snare;^r

the snare has been broken,^s

and we have escaped.

⁸Our help is in the name^t of the Lord,

the Maker of heaven^u and earth.

Psalm 125

A song of ascents.

¹Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,^v

which cannot be shaken^w but endures forever.

²As the mountains surround Jerusalem,^x

so the Lord surrounds^y his people

both now and forevermore.

³The scepter^z of the wicked will not remain^a

over the land allotted to the righteous,

for then the righteous might use

their hands to do evil.^b

⁴Lord, do good^c to those who are good,

to those who are upright in heart.^d

⁵But those who turn^e to crooked ways^f

the Lord will banish^g with the evildoers.

Peace be on Israel.^h

Psalm 126

A song of ascents.

¹When the Lord restoredⁱ the fortunes of^a Zion,

we were like those who dreamed.^b

²Our mouths were filled with laughter,^j

our tongues with songs of joy.^k

Then it was said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things^l for them.”

³The Lord has done great things^m for us,

and we are filled with joy.ⁿ

⁴Restore our fortunes,^co Lord,

like streams in the Negev.^p

⁵Those who sow with tears^q

will reap^r with songs of joy.^s

⁶Those who go out weeping,^t

carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

carrying sheaves with them.

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

¹Unless the Lord builds^u the house,

the builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches^v over the city,

the guards stand watch in vain.

²In vain you rise early

and stay up late,

toiling for food^w to eat—

for he grants sleep^x to^a those he loves.^y

³Children are a heritage from the Lord,

offspring a reward^z from him.

⁴Like arrows^a in the hands of a warrior

are children born in one’s youth.

⁵Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.^b

They will not be put to shame

when they contend with their opponents^c in court.^d

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

¹Blessed are all who fear the Lord,^e

who walk in obedience to him.^f

²You will eat the fruit of your labor;^g

blessings and prosperity^h will be yours.

³Your wife will be like a fruitful vineⁱ

within your house;

your children^j will be like olive shoots^k

around your table.

⁴Yes, this will be the blessing^l

for the man who fears the Lord.^m

⁵May the Lord bless you from Zion;ⁿ

may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem^o

all the days of your life.

⁶May you live to see your children’s children—^p

peace be on Israel.^q

Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

¹“They have greatly oppressed^r me from my youth,”^s

let Israel say;^t

²“they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,

but they have not gained the victory^u over me.

³Plowmen have plowed my back

and made their furrows long.

⁴But the Lord is righteous;^v

he has cut me free^w from the cords of the wicked.”^x

⁵May all who hate Zion^y

be turned back in shame.^z

⁶May they be like grass on the roof,^a

which withers^b before it can grow;

⁷a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,^c

nor one who gathers fill his arms.

⁸May those who pass by not say to them,

“The blessing of the Lord be on you;

we bless you^d in the name of the Lord.”

Psalm 130

A song of ascents.

¹Out of the depths^e I cry to you,^f Lord;

²Lord, hear my voice.^g

Let your ears be attentive^h

to my cry for mercy.ⁱ

³If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,

Lord, who could stand?^j

⁴But with you there is forgiveness,^k

so that we can, with reverence, serve you.^l

⁵I wait for the Lord,^m my whole being waits,ⁿ

and in his word^o I put my hope.

⁶I wait for the Lord

more than watchmen^p wait for the morning,

more than watchmen wait for the morning.^q

⁷Israel, put your hope^r in the Lord,

for with the Lord is unfailing love^s

and with him is full redemption.^t

⁸He himself will redeem^u Israel

from all their sins.^v

Psalm 131

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹My heart is not proud,^w Lord,

my eyes are not haughty;^x

I do not concern myself with great matters^y

or things too wonderful for me.^z

²But I have calmed and quieted myself,^a

I am like a weaned child with its mother;

like a weaned child I am content.^b

³Israel, put your hope^c in the Lord

both now and forevermore.^d

Psalm 132

132:8–10pp—2Ch 6:41–42

A song of ascents.

¹Lord, remember David

and all his self-denial.^e

²He swore an oath to the Lord,

he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:^f

³“I will not enter my house^g

or go to my bed,

⁴I will allow no sleep to my eyes

or slumber to my eyelids,

⁵till I find a place^h for the Lord,

a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

⁶We heard it in Ephrathah,ⁱ

we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:^aj

⁷“Let us go to his dwelling place,^k

let us worship at his footstool,^l saying,

⁸‘Arise, Lord,^m and come to your resting place,

you and the ark of your might.

⁹May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;ⁿ

may your faithful people^o sing for joy.’ ”

¹⁰For the sake of your servant David,

do not reject your anointed one.

¹¹The Lord swore an oath to David,^p

a sure oath he will not revoke:

“One of your own descendants^q

I will place on your throne.

¹²If your sons keep my covenant^r

and the statutes I teach them,

then their sons will sit

on your throne^s for ever and ever.”

¹³For the Lord has chosen Zion,^t

he has desired it for his dwelling,^u saying,

¹⁴“This is my resting place for ever and ever;^v

here I will sit enthroned,^w for I have desired it.

¹⁵I will bless her with abundant provisions;

her poor I will satisfy with food.^x

¹⁶I will clothe her priests^y with salvation,

and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.^z

¹⁷“Here I will make a horn^b grow^a for David

and set up a lamp^b for my anointed one.^c

¹⁸I will clothe his enemies with shame,^d

but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”^e

Psalm 133

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹How good and pleasant it is

when God’s people live together^f in unity!^g

²It is like precious oil poured on the head,^h

running down on the beard,

running down on Aaron’s beard,

down on the collar of his robe.

³It is as if the dewⁱ of Hermon^j

were falling on Mount Zion.^k

For there the Lord bestows his blessing,^l

even life forevermore.^m

Psalm 134

A song of ascents.