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Psalm 134 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

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Psalm 134[a]

Invitation to Night Prayer

1 A song of ascents.

Come forth to bless the Lord,
all you servants of the Lord,[b]
who minister throughout the night
in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands toward[c] the sanctuary
and bless the Lord.
3 May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth,
bless you from Zion.[d]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 134:1 As the pilgrims leave the temple and invite the priests to keep up their praise during the night, the latter direct to them a blessing that brings to a close the Songs of Ascents, the Pilgrim’s Psalter, just as Ps 117 concludes the collection of Alleluia (or Hallelujah) Psalms (Pss 111–117).
    This psalm should remind us that Jesus spent whole nights in prayer (see Lk 6:12) and that he urged the disciples to pray always and not lose heart (see Lk 18:1), a point reiterated by Paul in his first Letter: “Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thes 5:17f). Hence, this dialogued hymn can be exchanged between Christians on earth: those who are often taken away from divine praise by their earthly duties should ask those who are better prepared for this (priests and religious) to assure in their name the work of praise that is so necessary.
  2. Psalm 134:1 The psalmist calls upon the priests and Levites to lead the people in worship. These are the servants of the Lord who minister (literally, “stand”) in the house of the Lord. The priestly and Levitical ministry is often designated by the verb “stand” (see Ps 135:2; Deut 10:8), and they offered up musical praise to the Lord both day and night (see 1 Chr 9:33; 23:26, 30).
  3. Psalm 134:2 The priests and Levites also prayed with hands lifted up (see Ps 28:2; 1 Tim 2:8) toward the sanctuary (see 1 Ki 8:30).
  4. Psalm 134:3 The words of this verse recall the words spoken by the priests when blessing (see Num 6:24f). The blessing follows the people wherever they may go or live, because it comes from the Maker of heaven and earth, i.e., the Great King of the universe (see Ps 121:2). Yet, like God’s commandments, the blessing is not “beyond reach,” not “in heaven,” nor “beyond the sea,” but “very near” (see Deut 30:11-14; Rom 10:6ff)—from Zion. And it is the true Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, where Jesus the “mediator of a new covenant” reigns in the midst of his people (see Heb 12:22-24).

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Psalm 134 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

134 A Song of the Ascents. Lo, bless Jehovah, all servants of Jehovah, Who are standing in the house of Jehovah by night. 2 Lift up your hands [in] the sanctuary, And bless ye Jehovah. 3 Jehovah doth bless thee out of Zion, The maker of the heavens and earth!...
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Psalm 134 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

134 The song of degrees. Lo! now bless ye the Lord; all the servants of the Lord. Ye that stand in the house of the Lord; in the halls/in the foreyards of the house of our God (Ye who stand in the House of the Lord; night after night). 2 In nights raise your hands into holy things; and bless ye the ...
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Psalm 134 - World English Bible (WEB)

A Song of Ascents.134 Look! Praise Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh, who stand by night in Yahweh’s house!2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary. Praise Yahweh!3 May Yahweh bless you from Zion, even he who made heaven and earth....
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Psalm 134 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 134A song for those journeying to worship.1 Praise the Eternal, all you who serve Him— who stand ready to serve in the house of the Eternal through the night.2 Lift up your hands toward His sanctuary, and praise the Eternal. 3 May the Eternal grant you His blessing from Zion, God, the weaver o...
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Psalm 134 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Call to Evening WorshipPsalm 1341 A Song of Ascents.Behold, bless Adonai, all servants of Adonai,who stand by night in the House of Adonai.2 Lift up your hands to the Sanctuaryand bless Adonai.3 May Adonai bless you out of Zion—Maker of heaven and earth....
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Psalm 134 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Praise in the NightA Song of Ascents.134 Come, bless the Lord,all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord!2 Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the Lord! 3 May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!...
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Psalm 134 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 134Praise in the NightA Song of Ascents.1 Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord!(A)2 Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the Lord.(B)3 May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.Cross references134.1 : 1 Ch...
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Psalm 134 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 134A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.1 Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you who serve at night in the house of the Lord.2 Lift your hands toward the sanctuary, and praise the Lord. 3 May the Lord, who made heaven and earth, bless you from Jerusalem.[a] Footnotes134:...
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Psalm 134 - New Life Version (NLV)

A Call to Praise134 See, give honor and thanks to the Lord, all who work for the Lord, who stand during the night in the house of the Lord. 2 Lift up your hands to the holy place and give thanks to the Lord. 3 May the Lord bring good to you from Zion. He is the One Who made heaven and earth....
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Psalm 134 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Praising the Lord in His House at NightA Song of Ascents.134 Behold, bless the Lord,All you servants of the Lord,Who by night stand in the house of the Lord!2 (A)Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,And bless the Lord. 3 The Lord who made heaven and earthBless you from Zion! Cross referencesPsalm 13...
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Psalm 134 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 134A song of ascents.1 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord.2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. 3 May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who is the Maker of heaven and earth....
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Psalm 134 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 134A song of ascents.1 Praise the Lord, all you servants(A) of the Lord who minister(B) by night(C) in the house of the Lord.2 Lift up your hands(D) in the sanctuary(E) and praise the Lord.(F) 3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,(G) he who is the Maker of heaven(H) and earth. Cross referencesP...
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Psalm 134 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 134A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.1 All you who serve the Lord, praise the Lord. All you who serve at night in the house of the Lord, praise him.2 Lift up your hands in the temple and praise the Lord. 3 May the Lord bless you from Zion. He is the Maker of heaven an...
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Psalm 134 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 134[a]A song of ascents.[b]134 Attention![c] Praise the Lord,all you servants of the Lord,who serve[d] in the Lord’s temple during the night.2 Lift your hands toward the sanctuaryand praise the Lord.3 May the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth,bless you[e] from Zion.[f] FootnotesPsalm 134...
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