Psalms 121; Psalms 123; Psalms 124; Psalms 125; Psalms 128; Psalms 129; Psalms 130

Psalms 121

1 I look up to the hills. Where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord. He is the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He won't let your foot slip. He who watches over you won't get tired.

4 In fact, he who watches over Israel won't get tired or go to sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you. The LORD is like a shade tree at your right hand.

6 The sun won't harm you during the day. The moon won't harm you during the night.

7 The LORD will keep you from every kind of harm. He will watch over your life.

8 The LORD will watch over your life no matter where you go, both now and forever.

Psalms 123

1 I look up and pray to you. Your throne is in heaven.

2 Slaves depend on their masters. Maids depend on the women they work for. In the same way, we depend on the LORD our God. We wait for him to show us his favor.

3 Lord, show us your favor. Show us your favor, because people have made so much fun of us.

4 We have had to put up with a lot from those who are proud. They were always laughing at us.

Psalms 124

1 Here is what Israel should say. Suppose the LORD had not been on our side.

2 Suppose the LORD had not been on our side when our enemies attacked us.

3 Suppose he had not been on our side when their anger blazed out against us. Then they would have swallowed us alive.

4 They would have been like a flood that drowned us. They would have swept over us like a rushing river.

5 They would have washed us away like a swollen stream.

6 Give praise to the Lord. He has not let our enemies chew us up.

7 We have escaped like a bird from a hunter's trap. The trap has been broken, and we have escaped.

8 Our help comes from the Lord. He is the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalms 125

1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. They will always be secure. They will last forever.

2 Like the mountains around Jerusalem, the LORD is all around his people both now and forever.

3 Evil people will not always rule the land the LORD gave to those who do right. If they did, those who do right might do what is evil.

4 Lord, do good to those who are good. Do good to those whose hearts are honest.

5 But what about those who have taken paths that are crooked? The LORD will drive them out, along with those who do what is evil. May Israel enjoy peace.

Psalms 128

1 Blessed are all those who have respect for the Lord. They live as he wants them to live.

2 Your work will give you what you need. Blessings and good things will come to you.

3 As a vine bears a lot of fruit, so your wife will have many children by you. They will sit around your table like young olive trees.

4 Only a man who has respect for the LORD will be blessed like that.

5 May the LORD bless you from Zion. May you enjoy the good things that come to Jerusalem all the days of your life.

6 May you live to see your grandchildren. May Israel enjoy peace.

Psalms 129

1 Here is what Israel should say. Many times my enemies have beaten me down ever since I was a young nation.

2 Many times my enemies have beaten me down ever since I was a young nation, but they haven't won the battle.

3 They have made deep wounds in my back. It looks like a field a farmer has plowed.

4 The LORD does what is right. Sinners had tied me up with ropes. But the LORD has set me free.

5 May all those who hate Zion be driven back in shame.

6 May they be like grass that grows on the roof of a house. It dries up before it can grow.

7 There isn't enough of it to fill a person's hand. There isn't enough to tie up and carry away.

8 May no one who passes by say to those who hate Zion, "May the blessing of the LORD be on you. We bless you in the name of the Lord."

Psalms 130

1 Lord, I cry out to you because I'm suffering so deeply.

2 Lord, listen to me. Pay attention to my cry for your favor.

3 Lord, suppose you kept a record of sins. Lord, who then wouldn't be found guilty?

4 But you forgive. So people have respect for you.

5 With all my heart I wait for the LORD to help me. I put my hope in his word.

6 I wait for the Lord to help me. I wait with more longing than those on guard duty wait for the morning. I'll say it again. I wait with more longing than those on guard duty wait for the morning.

7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord, because the LORD's love never fails. He sets his people completely free.

8 He himself will set Israel free from all of their sins.