A Joyful Return to Zion

A Song of Ascents.

126 When (A)the Lord brought back [a]the captivity of Zion,
(B)We were like those who dream.
Then (C)our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the [b]nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.

(D)Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes [c]forth weeping,
Bearing [d]seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again [e]with (E)rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 126:1 Those of the captivity
  2. Psalm 126:2 Gentiles
  3. Psalm 126:6 to and fro
  4. Psalm 126:6 Lit. a bag of seed for sowing
  5. Psalm 126:6 with shouts of joy

13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people,
For salvation with Your Anointed.
You struck the head from the house of the wicked,
By laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah

14 You thrust through with his own arrows
The head of his villages.
They came out like a whirlwind to scatter me;
Their rejoicing was like feasting on the poor in secret.
15 (A)You walked through the sea with Your horses,
Through the heap of great waters.

16 When I heard, (B)my body trembled;
My lips quivered at the voice;
Rottenness entered my bones;
And I trembled in myself,
That I might rest in the day of trouble.
When he comes up to the people,
He will invade them with his troops.

A Hymn of Faith

17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18 Yet I will (C)rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 [a]The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like (D)deer’s feet,
And He will make me (E)walk on my high hills.

To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

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Footnotes

  1. Habakkuk 3:19 Heb. YHWH Adonai

The Parable of the Two Sons

28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my (A)vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”

They said to Him, “The first.”

Jesus said to them, (B)“Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 For (C)John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; (D)but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward [a]relent and believe him.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:32 regret it

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