4 Turn our captivity, O LORD,

As the streams in the dry land. 5 They that sow in tears

Shall reap in joy.

6 Though he goeth on his way weeping that beareth the measure of seed,

He shall come home with joy, bearing his sheaves.

127

A Song of Ascents; of Solomon.

Except the LORD build the house,
They labour in vain that build it;
Except the LORD keep the city,

The watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you that ye rise early, and sit up late,

Ye that eat the bread of toil;

So He giveth unto His beloved in sleep.

3 Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD; The fruit of the womb is a reward.

4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of one's youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them;

They shall not be put to shame,

When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

128

A Song of Ascents.

Happy is every one that feareth the LORD,
That walketh in His ways.

2 When thou eatest the labour of thy hands

Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, in the innermost parts of thy house;

Thy children like olive plants, round about thy table.

4 Behold, surely thus shall the man be blessed That feareth the LORD.

5 The LORD bless thee out of Zion;

And see thou the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life;

6 And see thy children's children.

Peace be upon Israel!

'Much have they afflicted me from my youth up',

Let Israel now say;

2 'Much have they afflicted me from my youth up;

But they have not prevailed against me. 3 The plowers plowed upon my back; They made long their furrows.

4 The LORD is righteous;

He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.'

5 Let them be ashamed and turned backward, All they that hate Zion.

6 Let them be as the grass upon the housetops,

Which withereth afore it springeth up;

7 Wherewith the reaper filleth not his hand, Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom;

8 Neither do they that go by say:

"The blessing of the LORD be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the LORD.'

Out of the depths have I called Thee, O
LORD.

2 Lord, hearken unto my voice;

Let Thine ears be attentive

To the voice of my supplications.

3 If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

4 For with Thee there is forgiveness, That Thou mayest be feared.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, And in His word do I hope.

6 My soul waiteth for the Lord,

More than watchmen for the morning;
Yea, more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the LORD;

For with the LORD there is mercy,

And with Him is plenteous redemption. 8 And He will redeem Israel

From all his iniquities.

131

A Song of Ascents; of David.

LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty;

Neither do I exercise myself in things too

great, or in things too wonderful for me. 2 Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child with his mother,

My soul is with me like a weaned child

3 O Israel, hope in the LORD

From this time forth and for ever.

2 How he swore unto the LORD,

And vowed unto the Mighty One of Jacob: 3 'Surely I will not come into the tent of my house,

Nor go up into the bed that is spread for

me;

4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes,
Nor slumber to mine eyelids;

5 Until I find out a place for the LORD,
A dwelling-place for the Mighty One of
Jacob.'

6 Lo, we heard of it as being in Ephrath;
We found it in the field of the wood.

7 Let us go into His dwelling place; Let us worship at His footstool.

8 Arise, O LORD, unto Thy resting-place; Thou, and the ark of Thy strength.

9 Let Thy priests be clothed with righteous.

ness;

And let Thy saints shout for joy.

10 For Thy servant David's sake

Turn not away the face of Thine anointed.

11 The LORD swore unto David in truth; He will not turn back from it:

'Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

12 If thy children keep My covenant

And My testimony that I shall teach them,

Their children also for ever shall sit upon

thy throne.'

13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion;

He hath desired it for His habitation: 14 This is My resting-place for ever;

Here will I dwell; for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provision; I will give her needy bread in plenty. 16 Her priests also will I clothe with salvation; And her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 17 There will I make a horn to shoot up unto David,

There have I ordered a lamp for Mine anointed.

18 His enemies will I clothe with shame; But upon himself shall his crown shine.'

133

A Song of Ascents; of David.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!

2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard;

Even Aaron's beard,

That cometh down upon the collar of his garments;

3 Like the dew of Hermon,

That cometh down upon the mountains of
Zion;

For there the LORD commanded the blessing,
Even life for ever.

Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD,