Psalms 126
What Happens in This Chapter
This short psalm remembers a time when God brought his people home from being captives in a far country. They laughed and sang, and other nations noticed what God had done. Then the psalm asks God to bring his people back again, and it ends with a picture of a farmer who cries while planting and sings while gathering the crop.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
1God brought his people home to Zion, the city of Jerusalem. It felt so good that we thought we were dreaming.
2Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
2We laughed out loud. We sang happy songs. People in other lands said, "God has done great things for them."
3The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
3Yes, God has done great things for us. That is why we are so happy.
4Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
4Bring our people home again, LORD. Fill us up like rain fills dry desert streams.
The KJV says "as the streams in the south." This means the dry desert land in the south, where empty streambeds suddenly fill with water after rain.
5They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
5People who cry while they plant seeds will sing when they gather the crop.
6He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
6A farmer goes out crying as he carries seed to plant. He will surely come back singing. His arms will be full of grain.
"Sheaves" are bundles of cut grain, tied together after the harvest.
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