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Psalm

Psalm 123

A Pilgrim Song

1-4 I look to you, heaven-dwelling God,

look up to you for help.

Like servants, alert to their master’s commands,

like a maiden attending her lady,

We’re watching and waiting, holding our breath,

awaiting your word of mercy.

Mercy,God, mercy!

We’ve been kicked around long enough,

Kicked in the teeth by complacent rich men,

kicked when we’re down by arrogant brutes.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/123-686a06b283878d63bc7486644a525a74.mp3?version_id=97—

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Psalm

Psalm 124

A Pilgrim Song of David

1-5 IfGodhadn’t been for us

—all together now, Israel, sing out!—

IfGodhadn’t been for us

when everyone went against us,

We would have been swallowed alive

by their violent anger,

Swept away by the flood of rage,

drowned in the torrent;

We would have lost our lives

in the wild, raging water.

6 Oh, blessed beGod!

He didn’t go off and leave us.

He didn’t abandon us defenseless,

helpless as a rabbit in a pack of snarling dogs.

7 We’ve flown free from their fangs,

free of their traps, free as a bird.

Their grip is broken;

we’re free as a bird in flight.

8 God’s strong name is our help,

the sameGodwho made heaven and earth.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/124-9edd3cfb5ea19f14f3c27470fd95b8da.mp3?version_id=97—

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Psalm

Psalm 125

A Pilgrim Song

1-5 Those who trust inGod

are like Zion Mountain:

Nothing can move it, a rock-solid mountain

you can always depend on.

Mountains encircle Jerusalem,

andGodencircles his people—

always has and always will.

The fist of the wicked

will never violate

What is due the righteous,

provoking wrongful violence.

Be good to your good people,God,

to those whose hearts are right!

Godwill round up the backsliders,

corral them with the incorrigibles.

Peace over Israel!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/125-0c611dd5b50968a354a864f1fc6f4986.mp3?version_id=97—

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Psalm

Psalm 126

A Pilgrim Song

1-3 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,

whenGodreturned Zion’s exiles.

We laughed, we sang,

we couldn’t believe our good fortune.

We were the talk of the nations—

“Godwas wonderful to them!”

Godwaswonderful to us;

we are one happy people.

4-6 And now,God, do it again—

bring rains to our drought-stricken lives

So those who planted their crops in despair

will shout hurrahs at the harvest,

So those who went off with heavy hearts

will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/126-72f11b3c924232ad843f2a56fa58f6b9.mp3?version_id=97—

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Psalm

Psalm 127

A Pilgrim Song of Solomon

1-2 IfGoddoesn’t build the house,

the builders only build shacks.

IfGoddoesn’t guard the city,

the night watchman might as well nap.

It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,

and work your worried fingers to the bone.

Don’t you know he enjoys

giving rest to those he loves?

3-5 Don’t you see that children areGod’s best gift?

the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?

Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows

are the children of a vigorous youth.

Oh, how blessed are you parents,

with your quivers full of children!

Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you;

you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/127-9ba94193bfcd0c898cc3ab2d76edc169.mp3?version_id=97—

Categories
Psalm

Psalm 128

A Pilgrim Song

1-2 All you who fearGod, how blessed you are!

how happily you walk on his smooth straight road!

You worked hard and deserve all you’ve got coming.

Enjoy the blessing! Revel in the goodness!

3-4 Your wife will bear children as a vine bears grapes,

your household lush as a vineyard,

The children around your table

as fresh and promising as young olive shoots.

Stand in awe of God’s Yes.

Oh, how he blesses the one who fearsGod!

5-6 Enjoy the good life in Jerusalem

every day of your life.

And enjoy your grandchildren.

Peace to Israel!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/128-73048f75f3413837845d1a7b6c3ef977.mp3?version_id=97—

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Psalm

Psalm 129

A Pilgrim Song

1-4 “They’ve kicked me around ever since I was young”

—this is how Israel tells it—

“They’ve kicked me around ever since I was young,

but they never could keep me down.

Their plowmen plowed long furrows

up and down my back;

ButGodwouldn’t put up with it,

he sticks with us.

ThenGodripped the harnesses

of the evil plowmen to shreds.”

5-8 Oh, let all those who hate Zion

grovel in humiliation;

Let them be like grass in shallow ground

that withers before the harvest,

Before the farmhands can gather it in,

the harvesters get in the crop,

Before the neighbors have a chance to call out,

“Congratulations on your wonderful crop!

We bless you inGod’s name!”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/129-cda53aba21a7b56fddb10b51c5a2fe8d.mp3?version_id=97—

Categories
Psalm

Psalm 130

A Pilgrim Song

1-2 Help,God—the bottom has fallen out of my life!

Master, hear my cry for help!

Listen hard! Open your ears!

Listen to my cries for mercy.

3-4 If you,God, kept records on wrongdoings,

who would stand a chance?

As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,

and that’s why you’re worshiped.

5-6 I pray toGod—my life a prayer—

and wait for what he’ll say and do.

My life’s on the line before God, my Lord,

waiting and watching till morning,

waiting and watching till morning.

7-8 O Israel, wait and watch forGod—

withGod’s arrival comes love,

withGod’s arrival comes generous redemption.

No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel,

buy back Israel from captivity to sin.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/130-9b90d3c898a0df7046d86a3130303930.mp3?version_id=97—

Categories
Psalm

Psalm 131

A Pilgrim Song

1 God, I’m not trying to rule the roost,

I don’t want to be king of the mountain.

I haven’t meddled where I have no business

or fantasized grandiose plans.

2 I’ve kept my feet on the ground,

I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.

Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,

my soul is a baby content.

3 Wait, Israel, forGod. Wait with hope.

Hope now; hope always!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/131-2aa9f2d24a2013add30ff5b58f49ebde.mp3?version_id=97—

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Psalm

Psalm 132

A Pilgrim Song

1-5 OGod, remember David,

remember all his troubles!

And remember how he promisedGod,

made a vow to the Strong God of Jacob,

“I’m not going home,

and I’m not going to bed,

I’m not going to sleep,

not even take time to rest,

Until I find a home forGod,

a house for the Strong God of Jacob.”

6-7 Remember how we got the news in Ephrathah,

learned all about it at Jaar Meadows?

We shouted, “Let’s go to the shrine dedication!

Let’s worship at God’s own footstool!”

8-10 Up,God, enjoy your new place of quiet repose,

you and your mighty covenant ark;

Get your priests all dressed up in justice;

prompt your worshipers to sing this prayer:

“Honor your servant David;

don’t disdain your anointed one.”

11-18 Godgave David his word,

he won’t back out on this promise:

“One of your sons

I will set on your throne;

If your sons stay true to my Covenant

and learn to live the way I teach them,

Their sons will continue the line—

always a son to sit on your throne.

Yes—I,God, chose Zion,

the place I wanted for my shrine;

This will always be my home;

this is what I want, and I’m here for good.

I’ll shower blessings on the pilgrims who come here,

and give supper to those who arrive hungry;

I’ll dress my priests in salvation clothes;

the holy people will sing their hearts out!

Oh, I’ll make the place radiant for David!

I’ll fill it with light for my anointed!

I’ll dress his enemies in dirty rags,

but I’ll make his crown sparkle with splendor.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/132-48c2ebe1bf550b8671bc912d9c7e3c12.mp3?version_id=97—