Song (Psalm) 126

Note: This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public. Some things (like capitalisation of ‘him’ referring to Jesus or ‘father’ referring to God) in the RV haven’t been decided yet so we’re still testing both ways.

Note: The Readers’ Version on the left is a translation into contemporary English aimed at the person on the street who hasn’t necessarily been brought up with exposure to Biblical jargon and/or 500-year old English. It’s designed to be used alongside the Literal Version on the right which gives the English reader a window into what’s actually written in the original languages. (See the introduction for more details—we recommend that you read the introduction first if you’re wanting to fully understand the Literal Version.) By comparing the left and right columns, you should be able to easily get the message of the text, while at the same time keeping an eye on what it was actually translated from.

Note that greyed words in the RV are words that the translators consider were most probably in the mind of the writer, but as none of us can double-check with the original speakers or writers, the reader is free to disagree. They are clearly marked because we’ve tried to be as honest and transparent as possible.

The lighter coloured words in the LV are words which aren’t needed in the grammar of the original languages but are required or implied in English. You can read the Key to learn more about them. The underlines joining words in the LV show when one original language word needs to be translated into two or more English words. (Just hide them with the button if you don’t need that information and find it distracting.) Also, the majority of sentences in the LV don’t have the words put into a sensible English order yet. (This should be completed by the end of 2023.)

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

126:1 The cheerful harvest

A Harvest of Joy; A Prayer for Deliverance

A song for walking uphill to Yerushalem.

A song for the ascent to Jerusalem.; A song of ascents.; A Song of Ascents.; A song of the ascents

126 When Yahweh restored Tsiyyon’s fortunes,

we were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouths were filled with laughter

≈and our tongues with singing.

Then they said among the nations,

“Yahweh has done great things for them.”

3 Yahweh did great things for us.

How glad we were.

4 Restore our fortunes, Yahweh,

like the streams do in the Negev desert.

5 Those who sow in tears will harvest with cheerful shouts.

6 ≈The man who goes out weeping, carrying seed ≈to sow,

will return again with happy shouts—bringing his bundles of grain with him.

↑ 126  The_song_of the_ascents\f + \fr 126:1 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

126.

1\f* in/on/at/with_restored YHWH DOM the_restoration_of Tsiyyōn we_were like_dream.

2 Then it_was_filled laughter mouth_of_our and_tongue_of_our a_shout_of_joy then people_said in/on/at/with_nations YHWH he_has_made_great for_doing with these_people.

3 YHWH He_has_made_great for_doing for_us we_were joyful.

4 Restore Oh_YHWH DOM fortunes_of_our\f + \fr 126:4 \ft OSHB variant note: שבות/נו: (x-qere) ’שְׁבִיתֵ֑/נוּ’: lemma_7622 n_1 morph_HNcfsc/Sp1cp id_19HUR שְׁבִיתֵ֑/נוּ\f* like_streams in/on/at/with_Negeb.

5 The_sow in/on/at/with_tears in/on/at/with_shouts_of_joy they_will_reap.

6 Going he_will_go and_weeping carrying (the)_bag_of the_seed certainly_(come) he_will_come\f + \fr 126:6 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f* in/on/at/with_shouts_of_joy carrying sheaves_of_his.