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,[a]
    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.