:Psalm 126

File:St Francis and St Monica - geograph.org.uk - 1608097.jpg and St. Monica on a stained glass window at Little St Mary's Church, Cambridge, England. Monica's phylactery contains verse 5 of Psalm 126 in Latin, for she long prayed for the conversion to Christianity of her son Augustine.]]

Psalm 126 expresses the themes of redemption and joy and gratitude to God. According to Matthew Henry, it was likely written upon the return of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity. In Henry's view, the psalm was written either by Ezra, who led the nation at that time, or by one of the Jewish prophets.{{cite web |url=https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/psalms/126.html|title=Psalms 126|year=2018|access-date=1 September 2018|work=Bible Study Tools}} Jewish scholarship pairs this psalm with Psalm 137, with Psalm 137 commemorating the beginning of the Babylonian exile, and Psalm 126 describing the end of that exile.{{cite web |url= https://www.etzion.org.il/en/shiur-38-when-lord-brought-back-return-zion-psalm-126-part-iii|title= Shiur #38: "When The Lord Brought Back The Return Of Zion" Psalm 126 (Part III)|first=Rav Elchanan|last=Samet|year=2018|access-date=2 September 2018|publisher=Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash}} The grammatical structure of the psalm, however, suggests that it is talking both about a past redemption (from Babylonian captivity, in verse 1) and a future redemption (the permanent return of the exiles at the end of days, in verse 4).{{cite web |url=http://www.richardmburgess.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/ps_126_Harmon_-_Setting_and_Interpretation.318202806.pdf|title=The Setting and Interpretation of Psalm 126|first=Alan M.|last=Harman|year=1984|access-date=2 September 2018|publisher=richardmburgess.com}} Alternately, modern Jewish commentators suggest that the second half of the psalm refers to the redemption of the land of Israel from agricultural drought.{{cite web |url=https://www.etzion.org.il/en/shiur-36-when-lord-brought-back-return-zion-psalm-126|title=Shiur #36: "When The Lord Brought Back The Return Of Zion" Psalm 126|first=Rav Elchanan|last=Samet|year=2018|access-date=2 September 2018|publisher=Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash}}

The Talmud (Ta'anit 23a) mentions this psalm in the context of the famous story of Honi ha-M'agel, who slept for seventy years. Before he fell asleep, Honi saw an old man planting a carob tree that would not bear fruit for seventy years. The Talmud begins,

Rabbi Yohanan said: This righteous man [Honi HaMa'agel] was troubled throughout the whole of his life about the meaning of the verse from Psalms 126, "A Song of Ascents, When the Lord brought back those that returned to Zion, we will be like dreamers." He wondered: Is it possible for one man to live long enough to dream continuously for seventy years? [As it is written, "For the Lord said: When Babylon's seventy years are over, I will take note of and I will fulfill you to my promise of favor -- to bring you back to this place" (Jeremiah 29:10).]

Honi then ate a meal and fell asleep for seventy years. When he awoke, he saw the man's grandson gathering the fruits of the carob tree. Honi returned to the study hall and heard scholars discussing laws that he himself had explicated. But they did not believe that he was still alive, and did not show him honor.{{cite web |url=https://www.hillel.org/docs/default-source/mcms-file-archives/hatikvah-amichai.pdf?sfvrsn=0|title=Psalm 126|publisher=hillel.org|access-date=2 September 2018}}

Alexander Kirkpatrick notes an affinity of this psalm with Psalm 85, which begins {{LORD}}, thou hast been favourable unto thy land.{{bibleverse||Psalm|85:1|KJV}}: King James VersionKirkpatrick, A., [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/psalms/126.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges] on Psalm 126, accessed 9 June 2022

Psalm 126 is customarily recited by Ashkenazim before the Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals) on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, and Jewish holidays.{{cite web |url=https://www.halakhah.com/rst/pesukim.pdf|title=Shimush Pesukim: Comprehensive Index to Liturgical and Ceremonial Uses of Biblical Verses and Passages|first=Reuven|last=Brauner|year=2013|edition=2nd|page=49}} Some say it on other days when Tachanun is not said.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pbuPJeQyeskC&pg=PA251|title=The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer: The Ashkenazic and Sephardic Rites|first=Macy|last=Nulman|year=1996|publisher=Jason Aronson|isbn=1461631246|page=304}} While on ordinary weekdays, Psalm 137 is traditionally recited before the Birkat Hamazon, that psalm's theme of the Destruction of the Temple is considered inappropriate for joyous occasions and holidays. For this reason, Psalm 126 is said before the Birkat Hamazon on Shabbat and Jewish holidays, as well as at other celebratory meals such as those at a Jewish wedding, brit milah, and pidyon haben.{{sfn|Scherman|2003|p=183}}

At these times, Psalm 126 is customarily sung in full. The psalm lends itself to a wide variety of melodies due to its simple, repeating structure,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q8IQAQAAIAAJ&q=simple+melody|title=A Rabbi reads the Psalms|first=Jonathan|last=Magonet|year=1994|publisher=SCM-Canterbury Press Limited|isbn=9780334013648|edition=2nd|page=120}} and as such has many musical versions popularized by synagogue groups, youth organizations, summer camps, and others. Melodies have been borrowed from other liturgical poems, such as El Adon.{{cite web |url=https://www.siddur.eu/learn-to-sing-jewish-prayers|title=Learn to sing Shir HaMaalot (Psalm 126) – Jewish Grace After Meals|year=2018|publisher=Siddur Ba-eir Hei-teiv – The Transliterated Siddur|access-date=31 August 2018}} German-speaking Jews have a tradition of adapting the liturgical melodies of each holiday's synagogue services to the singing of Psalm 126 at the table.{{cite web|url=http://www.jewish-music.huji.ac.il/content/shir-hama%E2%80%99alot-umbilical-cord-between-liturgical-and-domestic-soundspheres-ashkenazi-culture|title=Shir HaMaalot – The Umbilical Cord Between Liturgical and Domestic Soundspheres in Ashkenazi Culture|first=Naomi |last=Cohn-Zentner|date=July 2014|access-date=31 August 2018|publisher=Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jewish Music Research Centre}} Whereas fifteen psalms begin with the Masoretic superscription "Shir Hama'alot" (Song of Ascents), Psalm 126 is eponymously called "Shir Hama'alot" due to its prevalent use.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P_OfAAAAMAAJ&q=psalm+126|title=Through Storms We Grow: And Other Sermons, Lectures, and Essays|first=Alexander Alan |last=Steinbach|publisher=Bloch Publishing Company|year=1964|page=159}}

Psalm 126 is one of the fifteen Songs of Ascents recited in some communities after the Shabbat afternoon prayer in the period between Sukkot and Shabbat HaGadol (the Shabbat prior to Passover).{{sfn|Scherman|2003|p=530}}

Verse 4 is part of Selichot.

According to the Rule of St. Benedict of 530, this Psalm was assigned to the Office of none from Tuesday until Saturday, and following Psalm 127 and Psalm 128.traduction de Prosper Guéranger, Règle de saint Benoît,(Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007) p46.

Currently, in the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 126 is recited or sung at vespers on the Wednesday of the third week of the four weekly liturgical cycle. In the liturgy of the Mass, it is read on the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time of the year B6, the second Sunday of Advent and 5th Sunday of Lent that year.

In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office of Vespers{{cite web |title=Vespers|url= https://www.agpeya.org/Vespers/vespers.html|accessdate=3 March 2025 |publisher=agpeya.org}} and the second watch of the Midnight office.{{cite web |title=Midnight|url= https://www.agpeya.org/Midnight/midnight.html|accessdate=3 March 2025 |publisher=agpeya.org}}

This psalm is a Psalm of praise. It is used in moments of praise and to remind the Pentecostal community that redemption is coming and when it comes, you may not believe it - we were like those who dream!FC's Bible Commentary

In keeping with its theme of redemption, Psalm 126 was proposed by Religious Zionists to be the national anthem of the State of Israel.{{cite news|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/10288#.UomME8Ssim4|title=Hatikvah: The Impossible Dream|last=Gottesman|first=Ariella|date=31 May 2011|work=Israel National News|access-date=18 November 2013}} It, along with at least eleven other proposals, was ultimately passed over in favor of "Hatikvah", which was ratified as the official national anthem in 2004.{{cite web |url= https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-an-unwieldy-romantic-poem-and-a-romanian-folk-song-combined-to-produce-hatikva/|title= How an unwieldy romantic poem and a Romanian folk song combined to produce 'Hatikva'|first=Ilan|last=Ben Zion|date=16 April 2013|access-date=2 September 2018|work=The Times of Israel}}

Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin recited Psalm 126 on the White House lawn when he signed the second of the Camp David Accords with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat on March 26, 1979.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-PsRAQAAIAAJ&q=menachem+begin|title=Your Jewish Lexicon|first=Edith|last=Samuel|year=1982|publisher=Union of American Hebrew Congregations|page=154|isbn=9780807400548}}

File:In convertendo.JPG of Rameau's In convertendo (1751 version)]]

The complete psalm was set in Latin as a motet for a cappella choir by composers including George de La Hèle,Lavern J. Wagner, [http://0-www.oxfordmusiconline.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/subscriber/article/grove/music/12724 "La Hèle [Hele], George de"], in Oxford Music Online, accessed 1 January 2015, {{subscription required}} Lorenzo Perosi, Jean-Noël Marchand,David Fuller and Bruce Gustafson, [http://0-www.oxfordmusiconline.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/subscriber/article/grove/music/17722pg2 "Marchand (i)"], in Oxford Music Online, accessed 1 January 2015, {{subscription required}} Dmitri Bortnyansky (1777). Marc-Antoine Charpentier compose in 1670 one "In convertendo Dominus", H.169, for soloists, double chorus, strings and continuo. Also, Sébastien de Brossard, Michel-Richard de Lalande, Patrick Douglas.Gordon Munro, [http://www.musicascotica.org.uk/patrickdouglas.shtml "Patrick Douglas: In convertendo"], in Musica Scotica, accessed 5 October 2018.Neil McDermott, [https://glasgowchapelchoir.bandcamp.com/track/in-convertendo "We Were Glad - In Memoriam Dr Stuart Campbell by The University of Glasgow Chapel Choir"], in Bandcamp, accessed 5 October 2018. Jean-Philippe Rameau composed In convertendo Dominus c. 1710, for choir and orchestra. Jules Van Nuffel wrote a setting for mixed choir and organ as his Op. 32 in 1926. Giovanni Bernardino Nanino set alternate verses for a cappella choir.{{CPDL|work=Psalm 126}}

Heinrich Schütz composed a setting of a metred paraphrase in German of the psalm, "Wenn Gott einmal erlösen wird", SWV 231, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628. Other settings in German were made by Johann Hermann Schein and Heinrich Hartmann. Verses 5 and 6 were set by Johannes Brahms within the first movement of Ein deutsches Requiem, for choir and orchestra. Friedrich Kiel set the verses 5 and 6 as No. 5 of his Six Motets, Op. 82, published in 1883.

Johann Sebastian Bach used the second verse in German as the text for the opening movement of his Christmas cantata Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110 (1725).

Verses of the psalm have been set in English by composers including William Byrd and Charles Villiers Stanford. Jules van Nuffel set the complete psalm in Latin, In convertendo Dominus, in 1926.

In 1998, Philip Glass composed a setting in which the chorus sings worldless syllables and a narrator recites the text in English.Neil Levin, "The Book of Psalms and Its Musical Interpretations," booklet notes to "Psalms of Joy and Sorrow," Naxos CD 8.55945

The psalm is also sung to secular melodies such as "Waltzing Matilda", "The Longest Time","It's a Small World", Beethoven's Ninth, and college football songs, among many others.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zqvkbwCXAJEC&pg=PA147|title=The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath|first=Senator Joe|last=Lieberman|author-link=Joe Lieberman|year=2011|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=9781451606171|page=147}}

Sons of Korah included a setting of Psalm 126 on their 2000 album, "Redemption Songs."

The psalm inspired the hymn Bringing in the Sheaves, the lyrics were written in 1874 by Knowles Shaw, now usually set to a tune by George Minor, written in 1880.

The following table shows the Hebrew text{{cite web |url=https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26c6.htm |title=Psalms – Chapter 126 |publisher=Mechon Mamre}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.126?ven=The_Holy_Scriptures:_A_New_Translation_(JPS_1917)&lang=bi |title=Psalms 126 - JPS 1917 |publisher= Sefaria.org}} of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint{{cite web |title=Psalm 125 - Septuagint and Brenton's Septuagint Translation|url=https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/chapter.asp?book=24&page=125 |accessdate=3 March 2025 |publisher=Ellopos}} and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic text come from different textual traditions.A 1917 translation directly from Hebrew to English by the Jewish Publication Society can be found [https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26c6.htm here] or [https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.126?ven=The_Holy_Scriptures:_A_New_Translation_(JPS_1917)&lang=bi here], and an 1844 translation directly from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton can be found [https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/chapter.asp?book=24&page=125 here]. Both translations are in the public domain. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 125.

The New International Version and the Revised Standard Version refer to "the south" in verse 4 as "the Negev".

• Preliminary Psalms

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• {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=etK8tgEACAAJ&q=126|title=The Complete Artscroll Siddur|first=Rabbi Nosson|last=Scherman|year=2003|publisher=Mesorah Publications, Ltd.|isbn=9780899066509|edition=3rd}}

{{wikisource|Bible (King James)/Psalms#Psalm 126|Psalm 126}}

{{commonscat}}

• {{IMSLP|work=Category:Pieces with text from Psalm 126|cname=Pieces with text from Psalm 126}}
• {{CPDL|work=Psalm 126}}
• [https://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26c6.htm Psalms Chapter 126] text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org
• [https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-126/ Psalm 126 – Amazed at God’s Work] text and detailed commentary, enduringword.com
• [http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/126 A song of ascents. / When the LORD restored the captives of Zion] text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• [https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/treasury-of-david/psalms-126-1.html Psalm 126:1] introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
• Charles H. Spurgeon: [https://archive.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps126.php Psalm 126] detailed commentary, archive.spurgeon.org
• [https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/common-worship/daily-prayer/psalter/psalm-126 Psalm 126 / Refrain: The Lord has indeed done great things for us.] Church of England
• [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%20126 Psalm 126] at biblegateway.com
• Hymnary.org, [https://hymnary.org/browse/scripture/Psalms/126?sort=totalInstances Hymns for Psalm 126]

{{Psalms}}

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