Prayers, Songs, Praises: Psalm 127

The Blessing of the Lord

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

127:1 Unless the Lord builds a house,

its builders labor over it in vain;
unless the Lord watches over a city,
the watchman stays alert in vain.

2 In vain you get up early and stay up late,

working hard to have enough food—
yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves.

3 Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,

offspring, a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the sons born in one’s youth.

5 Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them.

They will never be put to shame
when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.

CSB

Prayers, Songs, Praises: Psalm 126

Zion’s Restoration

A song of ascents.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

we were like those who dream.

2 Our mouths were filled with laughter then,

and our tongues with shouts of joy.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”

3 The Lord had done great things for us;

we were joyful.

4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,

like watercourses in the Negev.

5 Those who sow in tears

will reap with shouts of joy.

6 Though one goes along weeping,

carrying the bag of seed,
he will surely come back with shouts of joy,
carrying his sheaves.

CSB