Psalm 126:1–127:5

¹A Song of the Ascents. In Jehovah’s turning back to the captivity of Zion, We have been as dreamers.

²Then filled with laughter is our mouth, And our tongue with singing, Then do they say among nations, ‘Jehovah did great things with these.’

³Jehovah did great things with us, We have been joyful.

⁴Turn again, O Jehovah, to our captivity, As streams in the south.

⁵Those sowing in tears, with singing do reap,

⁶Whoso goeth on and weepeth, Bearing the basket of seed, Surely cometh in with singing, bearing his sheaves!

Psalm 127

¹A Song of the Ascents, by Solomon. If Jehovah doth not build the house, In vain have its builders laboured at it, If Jehovah doth not watch a city, In vain hath a watchman waked.

²Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He giveth to His beloved one sleep.

³Lo, an inheritance of Jehovah are sons, A reward is the fruit of the womb.

⁴As arrows in the hand of a mighty one, So are the sons of the young men.

⁵O the happiness of the man Who hath filled his quiver with them, They are not ashamed, For they speak with enemies in the gate!

Psalm 128