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Psalm 126 - New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

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Psalm 126[a]

The Reversal of Zion’s Fortunes

1 A song of ascents.

I

When the Lord restored the captives of Zion,(A)
we thought we were dreaming.
2 Then our mouths were filled with laughter;
our tongues sang for joy.(B)
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.[b]

II

5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with cries of joy.(C)
6 Those who go forth weeping,
carrying sacks of seed,
Will return with cries of joy,
carrying their bundled sheaves.

Footnotes

  1. 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).
  2. 126:4 Like the dry stream beds of the Negeb: the psalmist prays for rain in such abundance that the dry riverbeds will run.

Cross references

  1. 126:1 : Ps 14:7.
  2. 126:2 : Jb 8:21.
  3. 126:5 : Bar 4:23; Is 65:19.

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Psalm 126 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

126 A Song of the Ascents. In Jehovah's turning back [to] the captivity of Zion, We have been as dreamers. 2 Then filled [with] laughter is our mouth, And our tongue [with] singing, Then do they say among nations, `Jehovah did great things with these.' 3 Jehovah did great things with us, We have bee...
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Psalm 126 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

126 The song of degrees. When the Lord turned the captivity of Zion; we were made as comforted. (When the Lord returned the captives to Zion/When the Lord returned prosperity to Zion; we were made like in a dream.) 2 Then our mouth was filled with joy; and our tongue with full out joying. Then they ...
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Psalm 126 - World English Bible (WEB)

A Song of Ascents.126 When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream.2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing.Then they said among the nations, “Yahweh has done great things for them.”3 Yahweh has done great things for us, and we are g...
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Psalm 126 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 126A song for those journeying to worship.1 Remember when the Eternal brought back the exiles to Zion? It was as if we were dreaming—2 Our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues were spilling over into song.The word went out across the prairies and deserts, across the hills, over the oc...
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Psalm 126 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Joyful Restoration of ZionPsalm 1261 A Song of Ascents.When Adonai restored the captives of Zion,it was as if we were dreaming.2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,and our tongue with a song of joy.Then they said among the nations,“Adonai has done great things for them.”3 Adonai has done great ...
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Psalm 126 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

A Harvest of JoyA Song of Ascents.126 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 they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”3 The Lord has done great things...
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Psalm 126 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

A Harvest of JoyA Song of Ascents.126 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 they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”3 The Lord has done great things...
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Psalm 126 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 126A Harvest of JoyA 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 gre...
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Psalm 126 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 126A Harvest of JoyA 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 gre...
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Psalm 126 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 126A Harvest of JoyA Song of Ascents.1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,[a] we were like those who dream.(A)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.”(B)3 The Lord has don...
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Psalm 126 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 126A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.1 When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,[a] it was like a dream!2 We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things fo...
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Psalm 126 - New Life Version (NLV)

A Prayer for Help126 It was like a dream when the Lord brought back to Zion those who had been held in another land. 2 Then we laughed with our mouths, and we sang with our tongues. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for ...
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Psalm 126 - New King James Version (NKJV)

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Psalm 126 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 126A song of ascents.1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of[a] Zion, we were like those who dreamed.[b]2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs 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, ...
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Psalm 126 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 126A song of ascents.1 When the Lord restored(A) the fortunes of[a] Zion, we were like those who dreamed.[b]2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,(B) our tongues with songs of joy.(C)Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things(D) for them.”3 The Lord has done great thi...
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Psalm 126 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 126A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.1 Our enemies took us away from Zion. But when the Lord brought us home, it seemed like a dream to us.2 Our mouths were filled with laughter. Our tongues sang with joy.Then the people of other nations said, “The Lord has done great...
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Psalm 126 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 126[a]A song of ascents.[b]126 When the Lord restored the well-being of Zion,[c]we thought we were dreaming.[d]2 At that time we laughed loudlyand shouted for joy.[e]At that time the nations said,[f]“The Lord has accomplished great things for these people.”3 The Lord did indeed accomplish grea...
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