126  When the Lord ^srestored the fortunes of Zion,

we were like those who ^tdream.

2  Then our ^umouth was filled with laughter,

and our tongue with shouts of joy;

then they said among the nations,

^v“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  ^wThose 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 ^xwatches 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 anxious ^ytoil;

for he gives to his ^zbeloved ^asleep.

3  Behold, ^bchildren are a heritage from the Lord,

^cthe fruit of the womb a reward.

4  Like arrows in the hand of ^da warrior

are the children¹ of one’s youth.

5  Blessed is the man

who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies ^ein the gate.²

128  ^fBlessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

who ^gwalks in his ways!

2  You ^hshall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

3  Your wife will be like ⁱa fruitful vine

within your house;

your children will be like ^jolive shoots

around your table.

4  Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

who fears the Lord.

5  ^kThe Lord bless you ^lfrom Zion!

May you see ^mthe prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life!

6  May you see your ⁿchildren’s children!

^oPeace be upon Israel!

129  “Greatly¹ have they ^pafflicted me ^qfrom my youth”—

^rlet Israel now say—

2  “Greatly have they ^pafflicted me ^qfrom my youth,

^syet they have not prevailed against me.

3  ^tThe plowers plowed ^uupon my back;

they made long their furrows.”

4  The Lord is righteous;

he has cut ^vthe cords of the wicked.

5  May all who hate Zion

be ^wput to shame and turned backward!

6  Let them be like ^xthe grass on the housetops,

which ^ywithers 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,

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

We ^bbless you in the name of the Lord!”

130  Out of ^cthe depths I cry to you, O Lord!

2  O Lord, hear my voice!

^dLet your ears be attentive

to ^ethe voice of my pleas for mercy!

3  If you, O Lord, should ^fmark iniquities,

O Lord, who could ^gstand?

4  But with you there is ^hforgiveness,

ⁱthat you may be feared.

5  I ^jwait for the Lord, ^kmy soul waits,

and ^lin his word I hope;

6  my soul ^mwaits for the Lord

more than ⁿwatchmen for ^othe morning,

more than watchmen for the morning.

7  O Israel, ^phope in the Lord!

For ^qwith the Lord there is steadfast love,

and with him is plentiful redemption.

8  And he will ^rredeem Israel

from all his iniquities.