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About this chapterThe people remember when the Lord restored Zion's fortunes and it felt like a dream: laughter and songs of joy filled their mouths, and even the nations said God had done great things for them. Now they pray for another restoration, like streams returning to a dry desert land. The psalm closes with a well-known image about farming: those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy, and the one who goes out weeping with seed will return carrying sheaves. Scholars differ on whether it looks back to the return from Babylon, but it speaks to anyone waiting for joy after sorrow.

The people remember when the Lord restored Zion's fortunes and it felt like a dream: laughter and songs of joy filled their mouths, and even the nations said God had done great things for them. Now they pray for another restoration, like streams returning to a dry desert land. The psalm closes with a well-known image about farming: those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy, and the one who goes out weeping with seed will return carrying sheaves. Scholars differ on whether it looks back to the return from Babylon, but it speaks to anyone waiting for joy after sorrow.

Themes

  • Joy after sorrow
  • Restoration
  • Sowing in tears
  • Hope while waiting

Key verses

Audio Bible · Psalms 126

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Psalms 126

Berean Standard Bible6 verses · 1 min read

1When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers. 2Then 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.” 3The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. 4Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. 5Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. 6He who goes out weeping, bearing a trail of seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain.
Verses in Psalms 126
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