121  Levavi oculos
   
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; *
    from where is my help to come?
   
2 My help comes from the LORD, *
    the maker of heaven and earth.
   
3 He will not let your foot be moved *
    and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
   
4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *
    shall neither slumber nor sleep;
   
5 The LORD himself watches over you; *
    the LORD is your shade at your right hand,
   
6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *
    nor the moon by night.
   
7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; *
    it is he who shall keep you safe.
   
8 The LORD shall watch over your going out and
                              your coming in, *
    from this time forth for evermore.
   
  122  Lœtatus sum
   
1 I was glad when they said to me, *
   "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
   
2 Now our feet are standing *
    within your gates, O Jerusalem.
   
3 Jerusalem is built as a city *
    that is at unity with itself;

 

 

Psalms 121, 122     779

 
4 To which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD, *
    the assembly of Israel,
    to praise the Name of the LORD.
   
5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *
    the thrones of the house of David.
   
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
   "May they prosper who love you.
   
7 Peace be within your walls *
    and quietness within your towers.
   
8 For my brethren and companions' sake, *
    I pray for your prosperity.
   
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God, *
    I will seek to do you good."
   
  123  Ad te levavi oculos meos
   
1 To you I lift up my eyes, *
    to you enthroned in the heavens.
   
2 As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, *
    and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
   
3 So our eyes look to the LORD our God, *
    until he show us his mercy.
   
4 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy, *
    for we have had more than enough of contempt,
   
5 Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, *
    and of the derision of the proud.

 

 

780    Psalm 123

 

  124  Nisi quia Dominus
   
1 If the LORD had not been on our side, *
    let Israel now say;
   
2 If the LORD had not been on our side, *
    when enemies rose up against us;
   
3 Then would they have swallowed us up alive *
    in their fierce anger toward us;
   
4 Then would the waters have overwhelmed us *
    and the torrent gone over us;
   
5 Then would the raging waters *
    have gone right over us.
   
6 Blessed be the LORD! *
    he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.
   
7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; *
    the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
   
8 Our help is in the Name of the LORD, *
    the maker of heaven and earth.
   
  125  Qui confidunt
   
1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, *
    which cannot be moved, but stands fast for ever.
   
2 The hills stand about Jerusalem; *
    so does the LORD stand round about his people,
    from this time forth for evermore.
   
3 The scepter of the wicked shall not hold sway over the
                              land allotted to the just, *
    so that the just shall not put their hands to evil.

 

 

Psalms 124, 125     781

 

4 Show your goodness, O LORD, to those who are good *
    and to those who are true of heart.
   
5 As for those who turn aside to crooked ways,
the LORD will lead them away with the evildoers; *
    but peace be upon Israel.
   
  Twenty-seventh Day: Evening Prayer
   
  126  In convertendo
   
1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, *
    then were we like those who dream.
   
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
    and our tongue with shouts of joy.
   
3 Then they said among the nations, *
   "The LORD has done great things for them."
   
4 The LORD has done great things for us, *
    and we are glad indeed.
   
5 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, *
    like the watercourses of the Negev.
   
6 Those who sowed with tears *
    will reap with songs of joy.
   
7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
    will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
   
  127  Nisi Dominus
   
1 Unless the LORD builds the house, *
    their labor is in vain who build it.

 

 

782    Psalms 126, 127

 
2 Unless the LORD watches over the city, *
    in vain the watchman keeps his vigil.
   
3 It is in vain that you rise so early and go to bed so late; *
    vain, too, to eat the bread of toil,
    for he gives to his beloved sleep.
   
4 Children are a heritage from the LORD, *
    and the fruit of the womb is a gift.
   
5 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior *
    are the children of one's youth.
   
6 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them! *
    he shall not be put to shame
    when he contends with his enemies in the gate.
   
  128  Beati omnes
   
1 Happy are they all who fear the LORD, *
    and who follow in his ways!
   
2 You shall eat the fruit of your labor; *
    happiness and prosperity shall be yours.
   
3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, *
    your children like olive shoots round about your table.
   
4 The man who fears the LORD *
    shall thus indeed be blessed.
   
5 The LORD bless you from Zion, *
    and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days
                              of your life.
   
6 May you live to see your children's children; *
    may peace be upon Israel.

 

 

Psalm 128     783

 

  129  Sœpe expugnaverunt
   
1 "Greatly have they oppressed me since my youth," *
    let Israel now say;
   
2 "Greatly have they oppressed me since my youth, *
    but they have not prevailed against me."
   
3 The plowmen plowed upon my back *
    and made their furrows long.
   
4 The LORD, the Righteous One, *
    has cut the cords of the wicked.
   
5 Let them be put to shame and thrown back, *
    all those who are enemies of Zion.
   
6 Let them be like grass upon the housetops, *
    which withers before it can be plucked;
   
7 Which does not fill the hand of the reaper, *
    nor the bosom of him who binds the sheaves;
   
8 So that those who go by say not so much as,
"The LORD prosper you. *
    We wish you well in the Name of the LORD."
   
  130  De profundis
   
1 Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice; *
    let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.
   
2 If you, LORD, were to note what is done amiss, *
    O LORD, who could stand?
   
3 For there is forgiveness with you; *
    therefore you shall be feared.

 

 

784    Psalm 129, 130

 

4 I wait for the LORD; my soul waits for him; *
    in his word is my hope.
   
5 My soul waits for the LORD,
more than watchmen for the morning, *
    more than watchmen for the morning.
   
6 O Israel, wait for the LORD, *
    for with the LORD there is mercy;
   
7 With him there is plenteous redemption, *
    and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.

 

 

Psalms 131, 132     785