Study Desk

A song of ascents.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.^(a)

Jerusalem—the mountains surround her. And the Lord surrounds His people, both now and forever.^(b)

The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, so that the righteous will not apply their hands to injustice.^(c)

Do what is good, Lord , to the good, to those whose hearts are upright.^(d)

But as for those who turn aside to crooked ways, the Lord will banish them with the evildoers.^(e) Peace be with Israel.^(f)

A song of ascents.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,^[a] we were like those who dream.^(a)

Our mouths were filled with laughter then,^(b) and our tongues with shouts of joy.^(c) Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."^(d)

The Lord had done great things for us; we were joyful.^(e)

Restore our fortunes,^[b] Lord , like watercourses in the Negev.^(f)

Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.^(g)

Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will surely come back with shouts of joy, carrying his sheaves.^(h)

A Solomonic song of ascents.

Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain;^(a) unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.^(b)

In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food— yes, He gives sleep to the one He loves.^[a](c)

Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord , children, a reward.^(d)

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one's youth.^(e)

Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them.^(f) Such men will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.^(g)