Psalms 126–6
Psalm 126:1-6
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Psa.126.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המעלות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- בשוב: PREP+VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- שיבת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- ציון: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- היינו: VERB,qal,perf,1,pl
- כחלמים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 126:2 (verbal): Immediate continuation of the same psalm—expresses the same response to Zion's restoration ('our mouth was filled with laughter'), echoing 'we were like those who dream.'
- Isaiah 35:10 (thematic): The redeemed return to Zion with singing and everlasting joy; sorrow flees—parallels the ecstatic tone and restoration motif of Ps 126:1.
- Jeremiah 31:12-14 (thematic): Promises of return, gladness, singing, and thanksgiving on Zion when God restores his people—closely parallels the language and theme of joyful restoration.
- Isaiah 52:7 (thematic): The proclamation of good news and salvation to Zion (beautiful feet bringing peace) resonates with the announcement-style celebration of Zion's restoration in Ps 126:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
- A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
Psa.126.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אז: ADV
- ימלא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- שחוק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פינו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1pl
- ולשוננו: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,1pl
- רנה: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אז: ADV
- יאמרו: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,pl
- בגוים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- הגדיל: VERB,hif,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לעשות: VERB,qal,inf
- עם: PREP
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 126:3 (verbal): Immediate continuation/repetition: 'The LORD has done great things for us' echoes the nations' recognition in v.2 and expresses the same astonished praise.
- Psalm 126:1 (structural): Contextual parallel: v.1 frames the scene of restoration ('When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion'), which explains the laughter and joyful shouts described in v.2.
- Psalm 126:5-6 (thematic): Develops the restoration-to-joy theme: sowing in tears leads to joyful reaping, paralleling the movement from sorrow to exuberant praise in v.2.
- Luke 1:49 (verbal): Mary's Magnificat: 'For he that is mighty hath done to me great things' uses language and theme of God's mighty acts on behalf of his people, echoing the declaration that the LORD has done great things.
- Zechariah 8:23 (thematic): Foretells nations recognizing God's favor on Israel—foreigners will seek themselves out of an acknowledgment that 'God is with you'—paralleling the nations' testimony in Ps.126:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with rejoicing; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
- Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
Psa.126.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הגדיל: VERB,hif,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לעשות: VERB,qal,inf
- עמנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- היינו: VERB,qal,perf,1,pl
- שמחים: ADJ,m,pl
Parallels
- Ps.126.1 (structural): Same psalm: context of restored fortunes—God’s great act of restoration leads the people to rejoice (continues the theme of joy at God’s deeds).
- Ps.118:24 (thematic): Both verses connect God’s action in history with a summons to rejoice: “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
- Ps.107:8 (thematic): Calls for thanksgiving for the LORD’s wonderful works and deliverance—echoes the motif of praising God for what he has done for his people. ("Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love… for his wondrous works")
- Isa.25:9 (verbal): Close verbal and thematic parallel: the people acclaim God’s saving deed and say, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
- Zeph.3:14–15 (thematic): Joyful response to divine action in restoration: Zion is commanded to sing and rejoice because the LORD has removed judgments and is in her midst—parallels the rejoicing over God’s great deeds in Ps 126:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
- The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
Psa.126.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שובה: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- שביתנו: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כאפיקים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בנגב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ps.126.1-3 (structural): Immediate context: the psalm celebrates Yahweh's past restoration of Zion and asks for that restoration again—the plea in v.4 continues the same theme of returning/renewal.
- Ps.126.5-6 (structural): Continuation of the same song: verses 5–6 develop the consequences of restoration (joyful sowing and reaping), directly linked to the request for restoration like streams in the Negev.
- Isa. 43:19 (verbal): Uses very similar imagery—God making 'a way in the wilderness' and 'rivers in the desert'—paralleling the plea for restoration as life-giving water in arid land.
- Isa. 41:17-18 (verbal): God promises to provide water and 'open rivers in high places' for the needy in the desert; closely echoes the stream-in-the-Negev motif of divine renewal and provision.
- Joel 2:25 (thematic): Joel's promise to 'restore the years' the locusts ate resonates with the petition to 'restore our fortunes'—both speak of divine restitution after devastation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the streams in the Negev.
- Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the streams in the Negev.
Psa.126.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הזרעים: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,pl,def
- בדמעה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ברנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יקצרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Psalm 126:6 (structural): Direct continuation/parallel of v.5; develops the same sowing-in-tears → returning with shouts of joy imagery (bearing seed, coming home with sheaves).
- Jeremiah 31:13 (thematic): Speaks of God turning mourning into joy and gladness—a prophetic promise of reversal like sowing in tears and reaping joy.
- Galatians 6:9 (verbal): Uses the sowing/reaping metaphor and encourages perseverance: ‘in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up,’ echoing the harvest-after-sorrow motif.
- John 4:36 (verbal): Mentions reaping and the joy of harvest—‘sower and reaper may rejoice together’—echoing the communal joy that follows labor and loss.
- Psalm 30:11 (thematic): Declares that God turns mourning into dancing and clothed with gladness, a psalmic expression of reversal from sorrow to joy parallel to v.5’s harvest imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.
- Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.
Psa.126.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הלוך: VERB,qal,part,3,m,sg
- ילך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ובכה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נשא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הזרע: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יבוא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ברנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נשא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלמתיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 31:12 (thematic): Restoration theme: those who come with sorrow will return with singing and joy—'joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away' echoes Psalm 126's movement from weeping to rejoicing.
- Hosea 10:12 (verbal): Sowing/reaping language: 'Sow for yourselves righteousness... reap the fruit of steadfast love' parallels the Psalm's image of bearing seed and later bringing in the harvest.
- Galatians 6:7-9 (thematic): Perseverance in sowing: 'Do not be weary in well doing... for in due season we shall reap' echoes the promise that one who goes out weeping bearing seed will return with joy.
- James 5:7-8 (thematic): Farmer/harvest patience motif: believers are urged to be patient like the husbandman waiting for the precious fruit, matching the Psalm's patient sowing and eventual rejoicing at harvest.
- Isaiah 30:23 (thematic): Divine provision for sowing/harvest: 'He will give rain for the seed... the threshing shall be in full time' parallels the Psalm's assurance that sowing amid tears leads to a blessed harvest and rejoicing.
Alternative generated candidates
- He who goes out weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall come back with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves.
- He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come again with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves.
A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for us."
The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.
He who goes out weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall come back with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves.