126 A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.
Our enemies took us away from Zion.
But when the Lord brought us home,
it seemed like a dream to us.
Our mouths were filled with laughter.
Our tongues sang with joy.
Then the people of other nations said,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us.
And we are filled with joy.
Lord, bless us with great success again,
as rain makes streams flow in the Negev Desert.
Those who cry as they plant their crops
will sing with joy when they gather them in.
Those who go out weeping
as they carry seeds to plant
will come back singing with joy.
They will bring the new crop back with them.
127 A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. A psalm of Solomon.
If the Lord doesn’t build a house,
the work of the builders is useless.
If the Lord doesn’t watch over a city,
it’s useless for those on guard duty to stand watch over it.
It’s useless for you to work from early morning
until late at night
just to get food to eat.
God provides for those he loves even while they sleep.
Children are a gift from the Lord.
They are a reward from him.
Children who are born to people when they are young
are like arrows in the hands of a soldier.
Blessed are those
who have many children.
They won’t be put to shame
when they go up against their enemies in court.
128 A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.
Blessed are all those who have respect for the Lord.
They live as he wants them to live.
Your work will give you what you need.
Blessings and good things will come to you.
As a vine bears a lot of fruit,
so may your wife have many children by you.
May they sit around your table
like young olive trees.
Only a man who has respect for the Lord
will be blessed like that.
May the Lord bless you from Zion.
May you enjoy the good things that come to Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
May you live to see your grandchildren.
May Israel enjoy peace.