126  When the Lord ^krestored the fortunes of Zion,

we were like those who dream.

2  Then our mouth was ^lfilled with laughter,

and our tongue with shouts of joy;

then they said among the nations,

^m“The Lord has done great things for them.”

3  The Lord has done great things for us;

we are glad.

4  Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

like streams in the Negeb!

5  ⁿThose who sow in tears

shall reap with shouts of joy!

6  He who goes out weeping,

bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

bringing his sheaves with him.

127  Unless the Lord builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

2  It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of ^panxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep.

3  Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward.

4  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the children¹ of one’s youth.

5  Blessed is the man

who fills his quiver with them!

He shall ^qnot be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.²

128  ^rBlessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

who ^swalks in his ways!

2  You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

you shall be blessed, and ^tit shall be well with you.

3  Your wife will be ^ulike a fruitful vine

within your house;

^vyour children will be ^wlike olive shoots

around your table.

4  Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

who fears the Lord.

5  ^xThe Lord bless you from Zion!

May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life!

6  May you ^ysee your children’s children!

^zPeace be upon Israel!

129  “Greatly¹ have they afflicted me from my ^ayouth”—

^blet Israel now say—

2  “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,

yet they have not prevailed against me.

3  The plowers plowed upon my back;

they made long their furrows.”

4  The Lord is righteous;

he has cut the cords of the wicked.

5  ^cMay all who hate Zion

be put to shame and turned backward!

6  Let them be ^dlike the grass on the housetops,

which withers before it grows up,

7  with which the reaper does not fill his hand

nor the binder of sheaves his arms,

8  nor do those who pass by say,

^e“The blessing of the Lord be upon you!

We bless you in the name of the Lord!”

130  Out of the ^fdepths I cry to you, O Lord!

2  O Lord, hear my voice!

Let your ears be ^gattentive

to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3  If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,

O Lord, ^hwho could stand?

4  But with you there is ⁱforgiveness,

^jthat you may be feared.

5  I ^kwait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and ^lin his word I hope;

6  ^mmy soul waits for the Lord

more than watchmen for the morning,

more than watchmen for the morning.

7  ⁿO Israel, hope in the Lord!

For with the Lord there is ^osteadfast love,

and with him is plentiful redemption.

8  And he will ^predeem Israel

from all his iniquities.