Psalm 121-130

New International Version

³ He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches^(C) over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over^(D) you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun^(E) will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm^(F)—
    he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.^(G)

³ Jerusalem is built like a city
    that is closely compacted together.
⁴ That 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.
⁵ There stand the thrones for judgment,
    the thrones of the house of David.

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love^(H) you be secure.
⁷ May there be peace^(I) within your walls
    and security within your citadels.^(J)”
⁸ For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.^(K)

³ Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
    for we have endured no end of contempt.
⁴ We have endured no end
    of ridicule from the arrogant,
    of contempt from the proud.

⁶ Praise be to the Lord,
    who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
⁷ We have escaped like a bird
    from the fowler’s snare;^(Q)
the snare has been broken,^(R)
    and we have escaped.
⁸ Our help is in the name^(S) of the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven^(T) and earth.

³ The scepter^(Y) of the wicked will not remain^(Z)
    over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
    their hands to do evil.^(AA)

⁴ Lord, do good^(AB) to those who are good,
    to those who are upright in heart.^(AC)
5 But those who turn^(AD) to crooked ways^(AE)
    the Lord will banish^(AF) with the evildoers.

Peace be on Israel.^(AG)

⁴ Restore our fortunes,^[c](AN) Lord,
    like streams in the Negev.^(AO)
5 Those who sow with tears^(AP)
    will reap^(AQ) with songs of joy.^(AR)
6 Those who go out weeping,^(AS)
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them.

³ Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward^(AY) from him.
⁴ Like arrows^(AZ) in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.
⁵ Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them.^(BA)
They will not be put to shame
    when they contend with their opponents^(BB) in court.^(BC)

⁵ May the Lord bless you from Zion;^(BM)
    may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem^(BN)
    all the days of your life.
⁶ May you live to see your children’s children—^(BO)
    peace be on Israel.^(BP)

⁵ May all who hate Zion^(BX)
    be turned back in shame.^(BY)
6 May they be like grass on the roof,^(BZ)
    which withers^(CA) before it can grow;
⁷ a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,^(CB)
    nor one who gathers fill his arms.
⁸ May those who pass by not say to them,
    “The blessing of the Lord be on you;
    we bless you^(CC) in the name of the Lord.”

³ If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?^(CI)
4 But with you there is forgiveness,^(CJ)
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.^(CK)

⁵ I wait for the Lord,^(CL) my whole being waits,^(CM)
    and in his word^(CN) I put my hope.
⁶ I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen^(CO) wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.^(CP)

⁷ Israel, put your hope^(CQ) in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love^(CR)
    and with him is full redemption.^(CS)
8 He himself will redeem^(CT) Israel
    from all their sins.^(CU)