Psalm 124:1–130:8

1 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our aside,”

bLet Israel now say—

2 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,

When men rose up against us,

3 Then they would have cswallowed us alive,

When their wrath was kindled against us;

4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,

The stream would have 1gone over our soul;

5 Then the swollen waters

Would have 2gone over our soul.”

6 Blessed be the Lord,

Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.

7 dOur soul has escaped eas a bird from the snare of the 3fowlers;

The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

8 fOur help is in the name of the Lord,

gWho made heaven and earth.

Psalm 125

The Lord The Strength of His People

A Song of Ascents.

1 Those who trust in the Lord

Are like Mount Zion,

Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

So the Lord surrounds His people

From this time forth and forever.

3 For athe scepter of wickedness shall not rest

On the land allotted to the righteous,

Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.

4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,

And to those who are upright in their hearts.

5 As for such as turn aside to their bcrooked ways,

The Lord shall lead them away

With the workers of iniquity.

cPeace be upon Israel!

Psalm 126

A Joyful Return to Zion

A Song of Ascents.

1 When athe Lord brought back 1the captivity of Zion,

bWe were like those who dream.

2 Then cour mouth was filled with laughter,

And our tongue with singing.

Then they said among the 2nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

3 The Lord has done great things for us,

And we are glad.

4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord,

As the streams in the South.

5 dThose who sow in tears

Shall reap in joy.

6 He who continually goes 3forth weeping,

Bearing 4seed for sowing,

Shall doubtless come again 5with erejoicing,

Bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 127

Laboring and Prospering with the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

1 Unless the Lord builds the house,

They labor in vain who build it;

Unless athe Lord guards the city,

The watchman stays awake in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early,

To sit up late,

To beat the bread of sorrows;

For so He gives His beloved sleep.

3 Behold, cchildren are a heritage from the Lord,

dThe fruit of the womb is a ereward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

So are the children of one’s youth.

5 fHappy is the man who has his quiver full of them;

gThey shall not be ashamed,

But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Psalm 128

Blessings of Those Who Fear the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

1 Blessed ais every one who fears the Lord,

Who walks in His ways.

2 bWhen you eat the 1labor of your hands,

You shall be happy, and it shall be cwell with you.

3 Your wife shall be dlike a fruitful vine

In the very heart of your house,

Your echildren flike olive plants

All around your table.

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

Who fears the Lord.

5 gThe Lord bless you out of Zion,

And may you see the good of Jerusalem

All the days of your life.

6 Yes, may you hsee your children’s children.

iPeace be upon Israel!

Psalm 129

Song of Victory Over Zion’s Enemies

A Song of Ascents.

1 “Many a time they have aafflicted 1me from bmy youth,”

cLet Israel now say—

2 “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth;

Yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The plowers plowed on my back;

They made their furrows long.”

4 The Lord is righteous;

He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.

5 Let all those who hate Zion

Be put to shame and turned back.

6 Let them be as the dgrass on the housetops,

Which withers before it grows up,

7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand,

Nor he who binds sheaves, his 2arms.

8 Neither let those who pass by them say,

e“The blessing of the Lord be upon you;

We bless you in the name of the Lord!”

Psalm 130

Waiting for the Redemption of the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

1 Out aof the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;

2 Lord, hear my voice!

Let Your ears be attentive

To the voice of my supplications.

3 bIf You, Lord, should 1mark iniquities,

O Lord, who could cstand?

4 But there is dforgiveness with You,

That eYou may be feared.

5 fI wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

And gin His word I do hope.

6 hMy soul waits for the Lord

More than those who watch for the morning—

Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

7 iO Israel, hope in the Lord;

For jwith the Lord there is mercy,

And with Him is abundant redemption.

8 And kHe shall redeem Israel

From all his iniquities.