Psalm 125-129
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 125
Israel’s Stability
A song of ascents.
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion.
It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.(A)
2 Jerusalem—the mountains surround her.
And the Lord surrounds His people,
both now and forever.(B)
3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous will not apply their hands to injustice.(C)
4 Do what is good, Lord, to the good,
to those whose hearts are upright.(D)
5 But as for those who turn aside to crooked ways,
the Lord will banish them with the evildoers.(E)
Peace be with Israel.(F)
Psalm 126
Zion’s Restoration
A song of ascents.
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,[a]
we were like those who dream.(G)
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter then,(H)
and our tongues with shouts of joy.(I)
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”(J)
3 The Lord had done great things for us;
we were joyful.(K)
4 Restore our fortunes,[b] Lord,
like watercourses in the Negev.(L)
5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with shouts of joy.(M)
6 Though one goes along weeping,
carrying the bag of seed,
he will surely come back with shouts of joy,
carrying his sheaves.(N)
Psalm 127
The Blessing of the Lord
A Solomonic song of ascents.
1 Unless the Lord builds a house,
its builders labor over it in vain;(O)
unless the Lord watches over a city,
the watchman stays alert in vain.(P)
2 In vain you get up early and stay up late,
working hard to have enough food—
yes, He gives sleep to the one He loves.[c](Q)
3 Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,
children, a reward.(R)
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the sons born in one’s youth.(S)
5 Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them.(T)
Such men will never be put to shame
when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.(U)
Psalm 128
Blessings for Those Who Fear God
A song of ascents.
1 How happy is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in His ways!(V)
2 You will surely eat
what your hands have worked for.(W)
You will be happy,
and it will go well for you.(X)
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house,
your sons, like young olive trees
around your table.(Y)
4 In this very way
the man who fears the Lord
will be blessed.(Z)
5 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
so that you will see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life(AA)
6 and will see your children’s children!
Peace be with Israel.(AB)
Psalm 129
Protection of the Oppressed
A song of ascents.
1 Since my youth they have often attacked me—
let Israel say—
2 Since my youth they have often attacked me,
but they have not prevailed against me.(AC)
3 Plowmen plowed over my back;
they made their furrows long.(AD)
4 The Lord is righteous;
He has cut the ropes of the wicked.(AE)
5 Let all who hate Zion
be driven back in disgrace.(AF)
6 Let them be like grass on the rooftops,
which withers before it grows up[d](AG)
7 and can’t even fill the hands of the reaper
or the arms of the one who binds sheaves.(AH)
8 Then none who pass by will say,
“May the Lord’s blessing be on you.”
We bless you in the name of Yahweh.(AI)
Footnotes
- Psalm 126:1 Or Lord returned those of Zion who had been captives
- Psalm 126:4 Or Return our captives
- Psalm 127:2 Or yes, He gives such things to His loved ones while [they] sleep
- Psalm 129:6 Or it can be pulled out
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