Mondays with the New Psalms: Psalm 126

Psalm 126

1 A song of ascents.

When the LORD restored the captives of Zion,
we thought we were dreaming.
2 Then our mouths were filled with laughter;
our tongues sang for joy.

Then it was said among the nations,
“The LORD had done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us;
Oh, how happy we were!

4 Restore our captives, LORD,
like the dry stream beds of the Negeb.
5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with cries of joy.

6 Those who go forth weeping,
carrying sacks of seed,
Will return with cries of joy,
carrying their bundled sheaves.
--NABRE


1 A Song of Ascents.

When the LORD brought back the exiles of Sion,
we thought we were dreaming.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter;
on our tongues, songs of joy.

Then the nations themselves said, "What great deeds
the LORD worked for them!"
3 What great deeds the LORD worked for us!
Indeed, we were glad.

4 Bring back our exiles, O LORD,
as streams in the south.
5 Those who are sowing in tears
will sing when they reap.

6 They go out, they go out, full of tears,
bearing seed for the sowing;
they come back, they come back with a song,
bearing their sheaves.
--Revised Grail Psalms

NABRE Notes;
[Psalm 126] A lament probably sung shortly after Israel’s return from exile. The people rejoice that they are in Zion (Ps 126:1–3) but mere presence in the holy city is not enough; they must pray for the prosperity and the fertility of the land (Ps 126:4). The last verses are probably an oracle of promise: the painful work of sowing will be crowned with life (Ps 126:5–6).

[126:4] Like the dry stream beds of the Negeb: the psalmist prays for rain in such abundance that the dry riverbeds will run.