Psalms 124:1--128:6

Psalm 124

A song of ascents, by David.

124:1 “If the Lord had not been on our side” –

let Israel say this! –

124:2 if the Lord had not been on our side,

when men attacked us,

124:3 they would have swallowed us alive,

when their anger raged against us.

124:4 The water would have overpowered us;

the current would have overwhelmed us.

124:5 The raging water

would have overwhelmed us.

124:6 The Lord deserves praise,

for he did not hand us over as prey to their teeth.

124:7 We escaped with our lives, like a bird from a hunter’s snare.

The snare broke, and we escaped.

124:8 Our deliverer is the Lord,

the Creator of heaven and earth.

Psalm 125

A song of ascents.

125:1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion;

it cannot be upended and will endure forever.

125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

so the Lord surrounds his people,

now and forevermore.

125:3 Indeed, the scepter of a wicked king will not settle

upon the allotted land of the godly.

Otherwise the godly might

do what is wrong.

125:4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,

to the morally upright!

125:5 As for those who are bent on traveling a sinful path,

may the Lord remove them, along with those who behave wickedly!

May Israel experience peace!

Psalm 126

A song of ascents.

126:1 When the Lord restored the well-being of Zion,

we thought we were dreaming.

126:2 At that time we laughed loudly

and shouted for joy.

At that time the nations said,

“The Lord has accomplished great things for these people.”

126:3 The Lord did indeed accomplish great things for us.

We were happy.

126:4 O Lord, restore our well-being,

just as the streams in the arid south are replenished.

126:5 Those who shed tears as they plant

will shout for joy when they reap the harvest.

126:6 The one who weeps as he walks along, carrying his bag of seed,

will certainly come in with a shout of joy, carrying his sheaves of grain.

Psalm 127

A song of ascents, by Solomon.

127:1 If the Lord does not build a house,

then those who build it work in vain.

If the Lord does not guard a city,

then the watchman stands guard in vain.

127:2 It is vain for you to rise early, come home late,

and work so hard for your food.

Yes, he can provide for those whom he loves even when they sleep.

127:3 Yes, sons are a gift from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb is a reward.

127:4 Sons born during one’s youth

are like arrows in a warrior’s hand.

127:5 How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!

They will not be put to shame when they confront enemies at the city gate.

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

128:1 How blessed is every one of the Lord’s loyal followers,

each one who keeps his commands!

128:2 You will eat what you worked so hard to grow.

You will be blessed and secure.

128:3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine

in the inner rooms of your house;

your children will be like olive branches,

as they sit all around your table.

128:4 Yes indeed, the man who fears the Lord

will be blessed in this way.

128:5 May the Lord bless you from Zion,

that you might see Jerusalem prosper

all the days of your life,

128:6 and that you might see your grandchildren.

May Israel experience peace!