123:1To you I do lift up my eyes, you who sit in the heavens. 123:2Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us. 123:3Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt. 123:4Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.
124:1If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say, 124:2if it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, when men rose up against us; 124:3then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; 124:4then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; 124:5then the proud waters would have gone over our soul. 124:6Blessed be Yahweh, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. 124:7Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped. 124:8Our help is in Yahweh’s name, who made heaven and earth.
125:1Those who trust in Yahweh are as Mount Zion, which can’t be moved, but remains forever. 125:2As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so Yahweh surrounds his people from this time forward and forever more. 125:3For the scepter of wickedness won’t remain over the allotment of the righteous; so that the righteous won’t use their hands to do evil. 125:4Do good, Yahweh, to those who are good, to those who are upright in their hearts. 125:5But as for those who turn away to their crooked ways, Yahweh will lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be on Israel.
126:1When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream. 126:2Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “Yahweh has done great things for them.” 126:3Yahweh has done great things for us, and we are glad. 126:4Restore our fortunes again, Yahweh, like the streams in the Negev. 126:5Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. 126:6He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, will certainly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves.
127:1Unless Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain. 127:2It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil; for he gives sleep to his loved ones. 127:3Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward. 127:4As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. 127:5Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.
128:1Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways. 128:2For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be well with you. 128:3Your wife will be as a fruitful vine, in the innermost parts of your house; your children like olive plants, around your table. 128:4Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears Yahweh. 128:5May Yahweh bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 128:6Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.
129:1Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say, 129:2many times they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me. 129:3The plowers plowed on my back. They made their furrows long. 129:4Yahweh is righteous. He has cut apart the cords of the wicked. 129:5Let them be disappointed and turned backward, all those who hate Zion. 129:6Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up; 129:7with which the reaper doesn’t fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his bosom. 129:8Neither do those who go by say, “The blessing of Yahweh be on you. We bless you in Yahweh’s name.”
130:1Out of the depths I have cried to you, Yahweh. 130:2Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my petitions. 130:3If you, Yah, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 130:4But there is forgiveness with you, therefore you are feared. 130:5I wait for Yahweh. My soul waits. I hope in his word. 130:6My soul longs for the Lord more than watchmen long for the morning; more than watchmen for the morning. 130:7Israel, hope in Yahweh, for with Yahweh there is loving kindness. With him is abundant redemption. 130:8He will redeem Israel from all their sins.
131:1Yahweh, my heart isn’t haughty, nor my eyes lofty; nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me. 131:2Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. 131:3Israel, hope in Yahweh, from this time forward and forever more.
132:1Yahweh, remember David and all his affliction, 132:2how he swore to Yahweh, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: 132:3“Surely I will not come into the structure of my house, nor go up into my bed; 132:4I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids; 132:5until I find out a place for Yahweh, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 132:6Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar: 132:7“We will go into his dwelling place. We will worship at his footstool. 132:8Arise, Yahweh, into your resting place; you, and the ark of your strength. 132:9Let your priests be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy!” 132:10For your servant David’s sake, don’t turn away the face of your anointed one. 132:11Yahweh has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: “I will set the fruit of your body on your throne. 132:12If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forever more.” 132:13For Yahweh has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation. 132:14“This is my resting place forever. Here I will live, for I have desired it. 132:15I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread. 132:16Her priests I will also clothe with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy. 132:17There I will make the horn of David to bud. I have ordained a lamp for my anointed. 132:18I will clothe his enemies with shame, but on himself, his crown will be resplendent.”
133:1See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! 133:2It is like the precious oil on the head, that ran down on the beard, even Aaron’s beard; that came down on the edge of his robes; 133:3like the dew of Hermon, that comes down on the hills of Zion: for there Yahweh gives the blessing, even life forever more.
134:1Look! Praise Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh, who stand by night in Yahweh’s house! 134:2Lift up your hands in the sanctuary. Praise Yahweh! 134:3May Yahweh bless you from Zion; even he who made heaven and earth.
135:1Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh’s name! Praise him, you servants of Yahweh, 135:2you who stand in Yahweh’s house, in the courts of our God’s house. 135:3Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant. 135:4For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself; Israel for his own possession. 135:5For I know that Yahweh is great, that our Lord is above all gods. 135:6Whatever Yahweh pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps; 135:7who causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth; who makes lightnings with the rain; who brings the wind out of his treasuries; 135:8Who struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and animal; 135:9Who sent signs and wonders into the middle of you, Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants; 135:10who struck many nations, and killed mighty kings, 135:11Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, 135:12and gave their land for a heritage, a heritage to Israel, his people. 135:13Your name, Yahweh, endures forever; your renown, Yahweh, throughout all generations. 135:14For Yahweh will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants. 135:15The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 135:16They have mouths, but they can’t speak. They have eyes, but they can’t see. 135:17They have ears, but they can’t hear; neither is there any breath in their mouths. 135:18Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them. 135:19House of Israel, praise Yahweh! House of Aaron, praise Yahweh! 135:20House of Levi, praise Yahweh! You who fear Yahweh, praise Yahweh! 135:21Blessed be Yahweh from Zion, Who dwells at Jerusalem. Praise Yah!
136:1Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever. 136:2Give thanks to the God of gods; for his loving kindness endures forever. 136:3Give thanks to the Lord of lords; for his loving kindness endures forever: 136:4To him who alone does great wonders; for his loving kindness endures forever: 136:5To him who by understanding made the heavens; for his loving kindness endures forever: 136:6To him who spread out the earth above the waters; for his loving kindness endures forever: 136:7To him who made the great lights; for his loving kindness endures forever: 136:8The sun to rule by day; for his loving kindness endures forever; 136:9The moon and stars to rule by night; for his loving kindness endures forever: 136:10To him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn; for his loving kindness endures forever; 136:11And brought out Israel from among them; for his loving kindness endures forever; 136:12With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; for his loving kindness endures forever: 136:13To him who divided the Red Sea apart; for his loving kindness endures forever; 136:14And made Israel to pass through the middle of it; for his loving kindness endures forever; 136:15But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea; for his loving kindness endures forever: 136:16To him who led his people through the wilderness; for his loving kindness endures forever: 136:17To him who struck great kings; for his loving kindness endures forever; 136:18And killed mighty kings; for his loving kindness endures forever: 136:19Sihon king of the Amorites; for his loving kindness endures forever; 136:20Og king of Bashan; for his loving kindness endures forever; 136:21And gave their land as an inheritance; for his loving kindness endures forever; 136:22Even a heritage to Israel his servant; for his loving kindness endures forever: 136:23Who remembered us in our low estate; for his loving kindness endures forever; 136:24And has delivered us from our adversaries; for his loving kindness endures forever: 136:25Who gives food to every creature; for his loving kindness endures forever. 136:26Oh give thanks to the God of heaven; for his loving kindness endures forever.
137:1By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 137:2On the willows in that land, we hung up our harps. 137:3For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 137:4How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land? 137:5If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill. 137:6Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you; if I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy. 137:7Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!” 137:8Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who rewards you, as you have served us. 137:9Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.
138:1I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you. 138:2I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all. 138:3In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul. 138:4All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, for they have heard the words of your mouth. 138:5Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh; for great is Yahweh’s glory. 138:6For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar. 138:7Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me. 138:8Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me; your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.
139:1Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me. 139:2You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar. 139:3You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 139:4For there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether. 139:5You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me. 139:6This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it. 139:7Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence? 139:8If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there! 139:9If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea; 139:10Even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me. 139:11If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night”; 139:12even the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you. 139:13For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 139:14I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well. 139:15My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth. 139:16Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them. 139:17How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum! 139:18If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you. 139:19If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men! 139:20For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain. 139:21Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you? 139:22I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies. 139:23Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. 139:24See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
140:1Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent man; 140:2those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war. 140:3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah. 140:4Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet. 140:5The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah. 140:6I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh. 140:7Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. 140:8Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah. 140:9As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 140:10Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise. 140:11An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him. 140:12I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy. 140:13Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
141:1Yahweh, I have called on you. Come to me quickly! Listen to my voice when I call to you. 141:2Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice. 141:3Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips. 141:4Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies. 141:5Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don’t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds. 141:6Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken. 141:7“As when one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.” 141:8For my eyes are on you, Yahweh, the Lord. In you, I take refuge. Don’t leave my soul destitute. 141:9Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of the workers of iniquity. 141:10Let the wicked fall together into their own nets, while I pass by.
142:1I cry with my voice to Yahweh. With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy. 142:2I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles. 142:3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my route. On the path in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me. 142:4Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul. 142:5I cried to you, Yahweh. I said, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 142:6Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than me. 142:7Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will be good to me.