Psalms 126

1 A SONG OF THE ASCENTS. In YHWH’s turning back [to] the captivity of Zion, We have been as dreamers.

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!

2 Then our mouth is filled [with] laughter, And our tongue [with] singing, Then they say among nations, “YHWH did great things with these.”

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

3 YHWH did great things with us, We have been joyful.

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

4 Turn again, O YHWH, [to] our captivity, As streams in the south.

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

5 Those sowing in tears, reap with singing,

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

6 Whoever goes on and weeps, Carrying the basket of seed, Surely comes in with singing, carrying his sheaves!

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