Psalms 125-127

Psalm 125

¹A Song of the going up. Those whose hope is in the Lord are like the mountain of Zion, which may not be moved, but keeps its place for ever.

²As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people, from this time and for ever.

³For the rod of sinners will not be resting on the heritage of the upright; so that the upright may not put out their hands to evil.

⁴Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in heart.

⁵But as for such as are turned out of the straight way, the Lord will take them away with the workers of evil. Let peace be on Israel.

Psalm 126

¹A Song of the going up. When the Lord made a change in Zion's fate, we were like men in a dream.

²Then our mouths were full of laughing, and our tongues gave a glad cry; they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them.

³The Lord has done great things for us; because of which we are glad.

⁴Let our fate be changed, O Lord, like the streams in the South.

⁵Those who put in seed with weeping will get in the grain with cries of joy.

⁶Though a man may go out weeping, taking his vessel of seed with him; he will come again in joy, with the corded stems of grain in his arms.

Psalm 127

¹A Song of the going up. Of Solomon. If the Lord is not helping the builders, then the building of a house is to no purpose: if the Lord does not keep the town, the watchman keeps his watch for nothing.

²It is of no use for you to get up early, and to go late to your rest, with the bread of sorrow for your food; for the Lord gives to his loved ones in sleep.

³See, sons are a heritage from the Lord; the fruit of the body is his reward.

⁴Like arrows in the hand of a man of war, are the children of the young.

⁵Happy is the man who has a good store of them; he will not be put to shame, but his cause will be supported by them against his haters.