Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 126

Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity.

¹ When the LORD ^(C1)brought back ^(F1)the captives of Zion,
We were ^(C2)like those who dream.

² Then our ^(C1)mouth was filled with laughter
And our ^(C2)tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has ^(C3)done great things for them."

³ The LORD has done great things for us;
We are ^(C1)joyful.

⁴ Restore our fortunes, LORD,
As the ^(F1)(C1)streams in the ^(F2)South.

⁵ Those who sow in ^(C1)tears shall harvest with ^(C2)joyful shouting.

⁶ One who goes here and there weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Chapter 127

Prosperity Comes from the LORD.

¹ Unless the LORD ^(C1)builds a house,
They who build it labor in vain;
Unless the LORD ^(C2)guards a city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.

² It is futile for you to rise up early,
To ^(F1)stay up late,
To ^(C1)eat the bread of painful labor;
This is how He gives to His ^(C2)beloved ^(C3)sleep.

³ Behold, ^(C1)children are a ^(F1)gift of the LORD,
The ^(C2)fruit of the womb is a reward.

⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a ^(C1)warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.

^5 (C1)Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
^(C2)They will not be ashamed
When they ^(C3)speak with their enemies ^(C4)in the gate.

Chapter 128

Blessedness of the Fear of the LORD.

^1 (C1)Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
Who ^(C2)walks in His ways.

² When you ^(C1)eat the ^(C2)fruit of the labor of your hands,
You will be happy and ^(C3)it will go well for you.

³ Your wife will be like a ^(C1)fruitful vine
^(F1)Within your house,
Your children like ^(C2)olive plants
Around your table.

⁴ Behold, for so shall a man
Who fears the LORD be blessed.

^5 (C1)The LORD bless you ^(C2)from Zion,
And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

⁶ Indeed, may you see your ^(C1)children's children.
^(C2)Peace be upon Israel!

Chapter 129

Prayer for the Overthrow of Zion's Enemies.

¹ "^(F1)Many times they have ^(C1)attacked me from my ^(C2)youth up,"
^(C3)Let Israel say,

² "^(F1)Many times they have attacked me from my youth up;
Yet they have ^(C1)not prevailed against me.

³ "The plowers plowed upon my back;
They lengthened their furrows."

⁴ The LORD ^(C1)is righteous;
He has cut up the ^(C2)ropes of the wicked.

⁵ May all who ^(C1)hate Zion
Be ^(C2)put to shame and turned backward;

⁶ May they be like ^(C1)grass upon the housetops,
Which withers before it ^(F1)grows up;

⁷ With which the harvester does not fill his ^(F1)hand,
Or the binder of sheaves his ^(F2)(C1)arms;

⁸ Nor do those who pass by say,
"The ^(C1)blessing of the LORD be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the LORD."

Chapter 130

Hope in the LORD'S Forgiving Love.

¹ Out of the ^(C1)depths I have cried to You, LORD.

² Lord, ^(C1)hear my voice!
Let ^(C2)Your ears be attentive
To the ^(C3)sound of my pleadings.

³ If You, ^(F1)LORD, were to keep account of guilty deeds,
Lord, who could ^(C1)stand?

⁴ But there is ^(C1)forgiveness with You,
So that You may be ^(F1)(C2)revered.

⁵ I wait for the LORD, my ^(C1)soul waits,
And I ^(F1)wait ^(C2)for His word.

⁶ My soul waits in hope for the Lord
More than the watchmen ^(C1)for the morning;
Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning.

⁷ Israel, ^(C1)wait for the LORD;
For with the LORD there is ^(C2)mercy,
And with Him is ^(C3)abundant redemption.

⁸ And He will ^(C1)redeem Israel
From all his guilty deeds.

Chapter 131

Childlike Trust in the LORD.

¹ LORD, my heart is not ^(C1)proud, nor my eyes ^(C2)arrogant;
Nor do I ^(F1)involve myself in ^(C3)great matters,
Or in things ^(C4)too ^(F2)difficult for me.

² I have certainly ^(C1)soothed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned ^(C2)child resting ^(F1)against his mother,
My soul ^(F1)within me is like a weaned child.

³ Israel, ^(C1)wait for the LORD
^(C2)From this time on and forever.