Psalms 126

1 A song for pilgrims going up to Jerusalem. When the Lord brought his people back from captivity to Zion, it was as if we were dreaming!

When Yahweh brought [us Israeli people] back to Jerusalem (OR, enabled us Israelis to prosper again), [it was wonderful]; it seemed as though [SIM] we were dreaming.

2 We laughed so much, we sang for joy. The other nations said, “The Lord has done wonderful things for these people.”

We were extremely happy, and we [SYN] continued shouting joyfully. Then the [other] people-groups said about us, “Yahweh has done great things for them!”

3 The Lord certainly has done wonderful things for us. How happy we were!

[And we say, “Yes], Yahweh [truly] has done great things for us, and we are [very] happy.”

4 Please return and help us again, Lord. Renew us like streams of water that renew the Negev desert.

Yahweh, when it rains, water flows in the streams again [after they were dry] [SIM]. Similarly, enable our nation to become great again like it was before.

5 Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy!

We cried when we planted [seeds because it was hard work preparing the soil that had not been plowed for many years]; [now we want to] shout joyfully because we are gathering a [big] harvest.

6 Those who weep as they go out to sow their seed will be singing in celebration when they carry the harvest home.

Those who cried as they carried the [bags of] seeds [to the fields] will shout joyfully when they bring the crops [to their houses at harvest time].