Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Restore Our Fortunes, O Lord
A Song of Ascents.
126:1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
Unless the Lord Builds the House
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children1 of one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.2
Footnotes
[1] 127:4
[2] 127:5
(ESV)
Daily Devotion Guideline
- Start with a prayer asking God to speak to you through the passage.
- Read today’s passage until you are familiar with the story or the principal points of the text.
- Try picking out a key verse of the passage and giving your own title to the text that in your opinion best summarizes the main point.
- Try answering the question “Who is God/Jesus like?” from today’s passage.
- Prayerfully try to answer “What lesson is God teaching me from today’s devotion?”
- End with a prayer of thanksgiving and asking God “How can I apply today’s teachings?”