Psalms 128:5-6

128:5 May the Lord bless you ¹  from Zion,

that you might see ²  Jerusalem ³  prosper

all the days of your life,

128:6 and that you might see ⁴  your grandchildren. ⁵ 

May Israel experience peace! ⁶ 

[128:5]  ¹ tn The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive of prayer (note the imperatives that are subordinated to this clause in vv. 5b-6a). Having described the blessings that typically come to the godly, the psalmist concludes by praying that this ideal may become reality for the representative godly man being addressed.

[128:5]  ² tn The imperative with prefixed vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding jussive.

[128:5]  ³ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[128:6]  ⁴ tn The imperative with prefixed vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the jussive in v. 5a.

[128:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “sons to your sons.”

[128:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “peace [be] upon Israel.” The statement is understood as a prayer (see Ps 125:5).