the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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King James Version
Psalms 126:1
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A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!A Song of Ascents. When Yahweh brought back those that returned to Zion, We were like those that dream.
A song for going up to worship.
When the Lord brought the prisoners back to Jerusalem, it seemed as if we were dreaming.A song of ascents.
When the Lord restored the well-being of Zion, we thought we were dreaming.A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
<> When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, We were like those who dream.
When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion (Jerusalem), We were like those who dream [it seemed so unreal].
A Song of Ascents.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.The `title of the hundrid and fyue and twentithe `salm. The song of grecis. Whanne the Lord turnede the caitifte of Sion; we weren maad as coumfortid.
A Song of Ascents. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like unto them that dream.
A Song of Ascents. When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers.
(A song for worship.)
It seemed like a dream when the Lord brought us back to the city of Zion.A Song of Ascents.
When Jehovah brought back those that returned to Zion, We were like unto them that dream.A song of ascents: When Adonai restored Tziyon's fortunes, we thought we were dreaming.
A Song of degrees.
When Jehovah turned the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.A song for going up to the Temple.
It will be like a dream when the Lord comes back with the captives of Zion.A Song of Ascents.
[A song of degrees.] When the Lord turned againe the captiuitie of Zion: wee were like them that dreame.
It was like a dream when the Lord brought back to Zion those who had been held in another land.
A Song of Ascents.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.A song of degres, or Psalme of Dauid. VVhen ye Lord brought againe the captiuitie of Zion, we were like them yt dreame.
WHEN the LORD brought back the people of Zion from captivity, we were like those that rejoice.
When the Lord brought us back to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
When Yahweh brought back the captives of Zion, we were like them who dream:
(125-1) <A gradual canticle.> When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted.
A Song of Ascents. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
When God shall cause them of Sion that were led into captiuitie for to returne: we shalbe as men that dreamed.
When the Lord turned the captivity of Sion, we became as comforted ones.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,we were like those who dream.
<> When the LORD brought back those who returned to Tziyon, We were like those who dream.
A song of ascents.
When Yahweh restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like dreamers.A Song of Ascents. When Jehovah turned back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream.
A Song of the Ascents. In Jehovah's turning back [to] the captivity of Zion, We have been as dreamers.
When the LORDE turneth agayne ye captiuyte of Sion, then shal we be like vnto them that dreame.
A Pilgrim Song It seemed like a dream, too good to be true, when God returned Zion's exiles. We laughed, we sang, we couldn't believe our good fortune. We were the talk of the nations— " God was wonderful to them!" God was wonderful to us; we are one happy people.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, We were like those who dream.
When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream.
A Song of Ascents.
When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who dream.When Yahweh returned the captive ones of Zion,We were like those who dream.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
turned again: etc. Heb. returned the returning of Zion, Psalms 53:6, Psalms 85:1, Ezra 1:1-11, Job 42:10, Jeremiah 31:8-10, Hosea 6:11, Joel 3:1
we were like: Job 9:16, Mark 16:11, Luke 24:11, Luke 24:41, Acts 12:9, Acts 12:14-16
Reciprocal: Genesis 45:26 - he believed Deuteronomy 30:3 - then the Nehemiah 8:12 - to make Job 29:24 - they believed Psalms 30:11 - turned Psalms 66:5 - Come Psalms 106:47 - Save us Psalms 126:4 - Turn again Ecclesiastes 3:4 - time to weep Isaiah 14:7 - they Isaiah 48:20 - with a voice Isaiah 49:24 - prey Jeremiah 29:14 - and I will turn Jeremiah 30:19 - out Jeremiah 32:44 - for I Jeremiah 33:7 - will cause Jeremiah 51:10 - let us Ezekiel 16:53 - bring Ezekiel 36:23 - and the heathen Joel 2:21 - for Zephaniah 2:7 - turn Luke 6:21 - ye shall laugh Luke 15:25 - he
Gill's Notes on the Bible
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion,.... Or returned the Jews from their captivity in Babylon; who are called Zion, from the city of David, built on Mount Zion, which was in Judea, and adjoined to Jerusalem, the metropolis of the kingdom; and because they were the godly who were concerned for Zion in a spiritual sense, or the church of God, and the interest of religion, whose spirits the Lord stirred up to come out of Babylon, upon the proclamation by Cyrus, when those that were more worldly and carnal stayed behind; as also because the chief mercy in returning the captives was the rebuilding the temple on Mount Zion, and the restoration of religious worship; which gave the religious captives in Babylon great concern, Psalms 137:1. This deliverance of the captives, though it was by Cyrus as an instrument, yet it was the Lord's work; which he employed him in, and stirred him up to do, and therefore is ascribed to him. And though this is expressed in the past tense, yet it may be put for the future; and be considered as a prophecy of it, and which the following word seems to confirm; and especially the prayer, Psalms 126:4; for the return of the captivity seems to require it should: and may not only literally respect the return of the captives in Babylon, but the conversion of the Jews in the latter day, and their deliverance from their present captivity; which is expressed sometimes by the Lord's bringing again Zion, and returning the captivity of the Jews, and their being turned to the Lord, Isaiah 52:8; and may be applied to spiritual and eternal redemption by Christ, of which the deliverance from Babylon was a type; and is sometimes expressed in the same language, Psalms 14:7; and the people redeemed are often signified by Zion, and are by nature captives to sin, Satan, and the law; from whence they are redeemed by Christ, whose work alone it is, Isaiah 1:27;
we were like them that dream; or "shall be" p; that is, as persons that know not whether they are asleep or awake; and whether what they see and enjoy is in reality or only a vision, as Peter's deliverance from prison was to him, Acts 12:9; When the proclamation by Cyrus was first heard of by the Jews, and they had their liberty upon it, they could hardly tell whether it was a real thing or a vision, and could scarcely believe it for joy; it seemed too good news to be true, as the news of Joseph's being alive was to Jacob, Genesis 45:26; and so the appearance of Christ, his resurrection, and redemption by him, were to the disciples, Luke 24:11. The Targum is,
"we were like the sick that are recovered;''
which sense the word has in Job 39:4; and will be the case of the Jews, when they are converted; who will be recovered out of the sick state and condition in which they now are, and have all their diseases healed, and sins forgiven; yea, their conversion will be as life from the dead, a resurrection of them from their graves, Romans 11:15. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, render it, "as those that are comforted"; and the Syriac version, "as those that rejoice"; each of the seasons mentioned being times of comfort and joy: Joseph Kimchi interprets it of the passing away and forgetfulness of affliction and trouble at the time of redemption, like a dream that flies away upon awaking.
p היינו "erimus", Musculus, Gejerus, Schmidt; so the Targum, Syr. Arab.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion - Margin, as in Hebrew, “returned the returning of Zion.” The Hebrew word which is rendered in the text captivity means properly return; and then, those returning. The ancient versions render it captivity. The reference clearly is to those who were returning to Zion, and the psalmist fixes his eye on them as returning, and immediately says that it was the Lord who had thus restored them. The whole was to be traced to God.
We were like them that dream - The Latin Vulgate and the Septuagint render this, “we were comforted.” The meaning is, “It seemed like a dream; we could hardly realize that it was so; it was so marvelous, so good, so full of joy, that we could scarcely believe it was real.” This state of mind is not uncommon, when, in sudden and overpowering joy, we ask whether it can be real; whether it is not all a dream. We fear that it is; we apprehend that it will all vanish away like a dream.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
PSALM CXXVI
The joy of the Israelites on their return from captivity, and
the effect their deliverance had upon the heathen, 1-3.
The prayer which they had offered up, 4.
The inference they draw from the whole, 5, 6.
NOTES ON PSALM CXXVI
This Psalm is not of David, has no title in the Hebrew or any of the Versions, and certainly belongs to the close of the captivity. It might have been composed by Haggai and Zechariah, as the Syriac supposes; or by Ezra, according to others. It is beautiful, and highly descriptive of the circumstances which it represents.
Verse Psalms 126:1. When the Lord turned again the captivity — When Cyrus published his decree in favour of the Jews, giving them liberty to return to their own land, and rebuild their city and temple.
We were like them that dream. — The news was so unexpected that we doubted for a time the truth of it. We believed it was too good news to be true, and thought ourselves in a dream or illusion. When the Romans had vanquished Philip, king of Macedon, they restored liberty to the Grecian cities by proclamation. It was done at the time of the Isthmian games, and by the crier, who went into the circus to proclaim them; none but the Roman general T. Quintius knowing what was to be done. Multitudes from all Greece were there assembled; and the tidings produced nearly the same effect upon them, according to Livy, that the publication of the decree of Cyrus did on the Jews, according to what is here related by the psalmist. I shall give the substance of this account from the Roman historian. When the Romans had sat down to behold the games, the herald with his trumpet went into the arena, according to custom, to proclaim the several games. Silence being obtained, he solemnly pronounced the following words:-
SENATUS ROMANUS ET T. QUINCIUS IMPERATOR, PHILIPPO REGE MACEDONIBUSQUE DEVICTIS; LIBEROS, IMMUNES, SUIS LEGIBUS ESSE JUBET CORINTHIOS, PHOCENSES, LOCRENSESQUE OMNES, ET INSULAM EUBOEAM, ET MAGNETAS, THESSALOS, PERRHAEBOS, ACHAEOS, PHTHIOTAS.
"The Roman Senate, and T. Quintius the general, having vanquished king Philip and the Macedonians, do ordain that the Corinthians, Phocensians, all the Locrensians, the island of Euboea, the Magnesians, Thessalians, Perrhaebians, Acheans, and Phthiotians, shall be free, be delivered from all taxes, and live according to their own laws."
The effect that this produced on the astonished Grecians who were present, is related by this able historian in a very natural and affecting manner; and some parts of it nearly in the words of the psalmist.
Audita voce praeconis, majus gaudium fuit, quam quod universum homines caperent. Vix satis se credere se quisque audisse: alii alios intueri mirabundi velut somnii vanam speciem: guod ad guemque pertineret, suarum aurium fidei minimum credentes, proximos interrogabant. Revocatur praeco, cum unusquisque non audire, sed videre libertatis suae nuncium averit, iterum pronunciaret eadem. Tum ab certo jam gaudio tantus cum clamore plausus est ortus, totiesque repetitus, ut facile appareret, nihil omnium bonorum multitudini gratius quam LIBERTATEM esse.
T. LIV. Hist., lib. xxiii., c. 32.
This proclamation of the herald being heard, there was such joy, that the people in general could not comprehend it. Scarcely could any person believe what he had heard. They gazed on each other, wondering as if it had been some illusion, similar to a dream; and although all were interested in what was spoken, none could trust his own ears, but inquired each from him who stood next to him what it was that was proclaimed. The herald was again called, as each expressed the strongest desire not only to hear, but see the messenger of his own liberty: the herald, therefore, repeated the proclamation. When by this repetition the glad tidings were confirmed, there arose such a shout, accompanied with repeated clapping of hands, as plainly showed that of all good things none is so dear to the multitude as LIBERTY.
O that God may raise up some other deliverer to save these same cities with their inhabitants, from a worse yoke than ever was imposed upon them by the king of Macedon; and from a servitude which has now lasted three hundred years longer than the captivity of the Israelites in the empire of Babylon!
Constantinople was taken by the Turks in 1453; and since that time till the present, (October, 1822,) three hundred and sixty-nine years have elapsed. Why do the Christian powers of Europe stand by, and see the ark of their God in captivity; the holy name by which they are called despised and execrated; the vilest indignities offered to those who are called Christians, by barbarians the most cruel, ferocious, and abominable that ever disgraced the name of man? Great God, vindicate the cause of the distressed Greeks as summarily, as effectually, as permanently, as thou once didst that of thy oppressed people the Jews! Let the crescent never more fill its horns with a victory, nor with the spoils of any who are called by the sacred name of JESUS: but let it wane back into total darkness; and know no change for the better, till illuminated by the orient splendour of the Sun of righteousness! Amen! Amen!
How signally has this prayer been thus far answered! Three great Christian powers, the British, the French, and the Russian, have taken up the cause of the oppressed Greeks. The Turkish fleet has been attacked in the Bay of Navarino by the combined fleets of the above powers in October, 1827, under the command of the British Admiral, Sir Edward Codrington, and totally annihilated. After which, the Mohammedan troops were driven out of Greece and the Morea; so that the whole of Greece is cleared of its oppressors, and is now under its own government, protected by the above powers.-March, 1829.
