Bible History
Bible History

Psalm 128 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

You are here: Home New Catholic Bible (NCB) Psalm 128

Psalm 128[a]

Happy Home of the Righteous

1 [b]A song of ascents.

Blessed[c] are all those who fear the Lord
and walk in his ways.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labors;
you will enjoy both blessings and prosperity.[d]
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine[e]
within your house;
your sons will be like shoots of an olive tree
around your table.
4 Such are the blessings that will be bestowed
on the man who fears the Lord.
5 [f]May the Lord bless you from Zion[g]
all the days of your life.
May you rejoice in the prosperity of Jerusalem
6 and live to see your children’s children.[h]
Peace be upon Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 128:1 A prosperous home, such is the happiness reserved by God for the righteous—so thought the sages of Israel (see Prov 3:33). Although the people soon realized that God’s reward is more mysterious, the joy and intimacy of the hearth, delicately invoked in this psalm, and the gathering of all in a Jerusalem radiant with peace remain the most suggestive images of the happiness that God will bestow on the righteous. The psalmist is encouraging the individual to contribute to the building up of the kingdom of God by living a godly life. Through him, his family will be built up, and God’s blessing will be extended to all the People of God.
    In praying this psalm, we can apply it above all to the spiritual goods that God reserves for Christian families. However, we know that the heavenly Father does not fail to add to his supernatural benefits such natural ones as the blessings and happiness promised by the psalmist: prosperity, professional success, fecundity, longevity, and peace.
  2. Psalm 128:1 The psalmist delineates the blessings of a God-fearing family: the right relationship with God, obedience to his words, fruitful labor, compatible loving parents, godly children, and domestic harmony.
  3. Psalm 128:1 The wise man was especially concerned with walking in the ways of the Lord (see Pss 1:1; 25:9f; Prov 14:2), ways of love, fidelity, and uprightness. Blessed: see note on Ps 1:1. Fear the Lord: see note on Ps 15:2-5. His ways: i.e., his commandments (see Pss 27:11; 86:11; 143:8).
  4. Psalm 128:2 In godly living, the judgment of God on humans (see Gen 3:17-19) is alleviated, for labor is truly blessed by God.
  5. Psalm 128:3 The imagery of vine and olive shoots recalls the times of David and Solomon (see 1 Ki 4:25) and the blessing associated with the Messianic Age (see Mic 4:4; Zec 3:10). To sit under one’s vine and fig tree symbolized tranquillity, peace, and prosperity. The metaphor of the vine indicates that the wife will be not only fruitful but also everything that a wife should be for the good of the family (see Prov 31:10-31). The children (shoots of an olive tree) will be strong and later on continue the father’s work (see Ps 52:10; Jer 11:16; Hos 14:6).
  6. Psalm 128:5 The psalmist further summarizes the blessedness of the righteous—unbroken prosperity, true relationship with God, secure national defense, and long life. In doing so, he implicitly calls upon and encourages each one of the faithful to contribute to the building up of the kingdom of God by leading an upright life in the presence of God.
  7. Psalm 128:5 The presence of God extends to his faithful servant wherever he may live. For the new People of God, it signifies the blessing of God on all who have the Spirit dwelling in them. From Zion: see Pss 9:11; 20:3; 135:21.
  8. Psalm 128:6 Live to see your children’s children: this prayer for the righteous corresponds to the phrase found in verse 5: “all the days of your life.” It calls down upon them God’s blessing of longevity, which was one of the greatest favors to be sought in a time when an idea of the afterlife had not yet been fully attained. Peace be upon Israel: see note on Ps 125:5. By these words, the psalmist applies God’s blessing on the individual to the whole People of God, requesting well-being and prosperity for all. Paul may be echoing this phrase in Gal 6:16: “May peace and mercy be given to all who follow this rule, and to the Israel of God.” It sums up Paul’s concern that God’s people should show themselves true citizens of “the Jerusalem that is above” (Gal 4:26).

You Might Also Like:

Psalm 128 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

128 A Song of the Ascents. O the happiness of every one fearing Jehovah, Who is walking in His ways. 2 The labour of thy hands thou surely eatest, Happy [art] thou, and good [is] to thee. 3 Thy wife [is] as a fruitful vine in the sides of thy house, Thy sons as olive plants around thy table. 4 Lo, s...
Read More

Psalm 128 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

128 The song of degrees. Blessed be all men, that dread the Lord; that go in his ways. (Happy be all those, who fear the Lord/who revere the Lord; and who go in his ways.) 2 For thou shalt eat the travails of thine hands; thou art blessed, and it shall be well to thee. (For thou shalt eat the fruit ...
Read More

Psalm 128 - World English Bible (WEB)

A Song of Ascents.128 Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways.2 For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be well with you.3 Your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house, your children like olive shoots around your table...
Read More

Psalm 128 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 128A song for those journeying to worship.1 Those who stand in awe of the Eternal— who follow wherever He leads, committed in their hearts—experience His blessings!2 God will use your hard work to provide you food. You will prosper in your labor, and it will go well for you. 3 Your wife will b...
Read More

Psalm 128 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Blessing on Those Who Fear GodPsalm 1281 A Song of Ascents.Happy is everyone in awe of Adonai, who walks in His ways,2 for you will eat the labor of your hands.You will be blessedand it will be good for you.3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house.Your children will be like olive s...
Read More

Psalm 128 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Happy Home of the FaithfulA Song of Ascents.128 Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;your children will be...
Read More

Psalm 128 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Happy Home of the FaithfulA Song of Ascents.128 Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;your children will be...
Read More

Psalm 128 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 128The Happy Home of the FaithfulA Song of Ascents.1 Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways.2 You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;your children wi...
Read More

Psalm 128 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 128The Happy Home of the FaithfulA Song of Ascents.1 Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways.(A)2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.(B)3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;your childre...
Read More

Psalm 128 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 128A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.1 How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways!2 You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!3 Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home.Your children will be like...
Read More

Psalm 128 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Joy of Obeying128 Happy are all who honor the Lord with fear, and who walk in His ways. 2 For you will eat the fruit of your hands. You will be happy and it will be well with you. 3 Your wife will be like a vine with much fruit within your house. Your children will be like olive plants around ...
Read More

Psalm 128 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Blessings of Those Who Fear the LordA Song of Ascents.128 Blessed (A)is every one who fears the Lord,Who walks in His ways. 2 (B)When you eat the [a]labor of your hands,You shall be happy, and it shall be (C)well with you.3 Your wife shall be (D)like a fruitful vineIn the very heart of your house,Yo...
Read More

Psalm 128 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 128A song of ascents.1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.2 You will eat the fruit of your labour; blessings and prosperity will be yours.3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;your children will be like olive shoots round your table.4 Yes, this...
Read More

Psalm 128 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 128A song of ascents.1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,(A) who walk in obedience to him.(B)2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;(C) blessings and prosperity(D) will be yours.3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine(E) within your house;your children(F) will be like olive shoots(G) around y...
Read More

Psalm 128 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 128A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.1 Blessed are all those who have respect for the Lord. They live as he wants them to live.2 Your work will give you what you need. Blessings and good things will come to you.3 As a vine bears a lot of fruit, so may your wife have m...
Read More

Psalm 128 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 128[a]A song of ascents.[b]128 How blessed is every one of the Lord’s loyal followers,[c]each one who keeps his commands.[d]2 You[e] will eat what you worked so hard to grow.[f]You will be blessed and secure.[g]3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine[h]in the inner rooms of your house;your ch...
Read More

61 Bible Translations

Popular Articles

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Bible History Online

Bible Study Tools

Top Tags