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Psalterium Catholicum offers praying the Psalms, practicing Lectio Divina, and exploring faithful Catholic resources for daily devotion.

Psalm 125 The Psalter Psalm 127

PSALMVS CXXVI

In convertendo

A Song of Degrees: Return from Exile · Thanksgiving · Book V

Pray this Psalm · Lectio Divina

1They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion: he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth

2in Jerusalem. Mountains are round about it: so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth now and for ever.

3For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners upon the lot of the just: that the just may not stretch forth their hands to iniquity.

4Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to the upright of heart.

5But such as turn aside into bonds, the Lord shall lead out with the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel.

Douay-Rheims · Challoner Revision

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Wisdom of the Church

Psalm 126, titled 'A Song of Ascents,' is part of the collection (Psalms 120–134) traditionally sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for the three major festivals. While the superscription does not explicitly name David, scholars often link its thematic content to the post-exilic period, likely reflecting the joy of the return from the Babylonian Captivity under Cyrus the Great. The 'restoration of the fortunes of Zion' serves as the anchor of the text, depicting the transition from the weeping of exile to the harvest joy of return. Within the structure of the Psalter, it occupies a vital place in the Fourth Book, serving as a communal prayer of thanksgiving that bridges individual lament and national restoration. In Second Temple worship, this psalm functioned as a liturgical proclamation of God’s covenantal fidelity. It stands as a testament to Israel’s historical endurance, framing the painful reality of divine judgment as the necessary prelude to the bountiful harvest of divine mercy, thereby reinforcing the community's identity as a people chosen by Yahweh to dwell in His holy city.