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Psalm 124

Thanksgiving for Israel’s Deliverance

A Song of Ascents. Of David.
¹ If it had not been the Lord who was on our side
   —let Israel now say—
² if it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
   when our enemies attacked us,
³ then they would have swallowed us up alive,
   when their anger was kindled against us;
⁴ then the flood would have swept us away,
   the torrent would have gone over us;
⁵ then over us would have gone
   the raging waters.

⁶ Blessed be the Lord,
   who has not given us
   as prey to their teeth.
⁷ We have escaped like a bird
   from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
   and we have escaped.

⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord,
   who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 125

The Security of God’s People

A Song of Ascents.
¹ Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
   which cannot be moved, but abides for ever.
² As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
   so the Lord surrounds his people,
   from this time on and for evermore.
³ For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest
   on the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous may not stretch out
   their hands to do wrong.
⁴ Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
   and to those who are upright in their hearts.
⁵ But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways
   the Lord will lead away with evildoers.
   Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 126

A Harvest of Joy

A Song of Ascents.
¹ When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,^*
   we were like those who dream.
² Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
   and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
   ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
³ The Lord has done great things for us,
   and we rejoiced.

⁴ Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
   like the watercourses in the Negeb.
⁵ May those who sow in tears
   reap with shouts of joy.
⁶ Those who go out weeping,
   bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
   carrying their sheaves.

Psalm 127

God’s Blessings in the Home

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
¹ Unless the Lord builds the house,
   those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
   the guard keeps watch in vain.
² It is in vain that you rise up early
   and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
   for he gives sleep to his beloved.^*

³ Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,
   the fruit of the womb a reward.
⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
   are the sons of one’s youth.
⁵ Happy is the man who has
   his quiver full of them.
He shall not be put to shame
   when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.