Psalms 126
A harvest psalm of joy after captivity turned to laughter.
Psalm 126 recalls a moment so joyful it felt unreal, "we were like them that dream," as the Lord reversed Zion's captivity and filled the people's mouths with laughter and singing. This short psalm sits between Psalms 125's picture of settled trust and a fresh plea for continued restoration.
A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers.
Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.
He who goes out weeping, bearing a trail of seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain.