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.
When Yahweh brought back the captives of Zion, we were like them who dream:
Then, was our mouth, filled with laughter, and our tongue with a shout of triumph,—Then, said they among the nations, Yahweh, hath done great things, with these!
Yahweh, hath done great things with us, we are full of joy!
Bring thou back, O Yahweh, our captives, like channels in the South.
They who are sowing with tears, with shouting, shall reap:
He that, doth indeed go forth, and weep, bearing seed enough to trail along, doth, surely come in, with shouting, bringing his sheaves.