Psalms 125
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 125 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.
6 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Psalms 125
1(126) A Song of Degrees. When the Lord turned the captivity of Sion, we became as comforted ones.Ὠδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. Ἐν τῷ ἐπιστρέψαι Κύριον τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν Σιὼν, ἐγενήθημεν ὡσεὶ παρακεκλημένοι.
2Then was our mouth filled with joy, and our tongue with exultation: then would they say among the Gentiles,Τότε ἐπλήσθη χαρᾶς τὸ στόμα ἡμῶν, καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα ἡμῶν ἀγαλλιάσεως· τότε ἐροῦσιν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ἐμεγάλυνε Κύριος τοῦ ποιῆσαι μετʼ αὐτῶν.
3The Lord has done great things among them. The Lord has done great things for us, we became joyful.Ἐμεγάλυνε Κύριος τοῦ ποιῆσαι μεθʼ ἡμῶν, ἐγενήθημεν εὐφραινόμενοι.
4Turn, O Lord, our captivity, as the streams in the south.Ἐπίστρεψον, Κύριε, τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν ἡμῶν ὡς χειμάῤῥους ἐν τῷ Νότῳ.
5They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.Οἱ σπείροντες ἐν δάκρυσιν, ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει θεριοῦσι.
6They went on and wept as they cast their seeds; but they shall surely come with exultation, bringing their sheaves with them.Πορευόμενοι ἐπορεύοντο, καὶ ἔκλαιον βάλλοντες τὰ σπέρματα αὐτῶν· ἐρχόμενοι δὲ ἥξουσιν ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει αἴροντες τὰ δράγματα αὐτῶν.
The Fathers on Psalms 125
Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On Psalms 125:1Saint Augustine of Hippo2. “When the Lord turned back the captivity of Sion, we became as those that are comforted” (ver. 1). He meant by this to say, we became joyful. When? “When the Lord turned back the captivity of Sion.” What is Sion? Jerusalem, the same is also the eternal Sion. How is Sion eternal, how is Sion captive? In angels eternal, in men captive. For not all the citizens of that city are captives, but those who are away…
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On Psalms 125:2Saint Augustine of Hippo3. “Then was our mouth filled with joy, and our tongue with exultation” (ver. 2). That mouth, brethren, which we have in our body, how is it “filled with joy”? It useth not to be “filled,” save with meat, or drink, or some such thing put into the mouth. Sometimes our mouth is filled; and it is more that we say to your holiness, when we have our mouth full, we cannot speak. But we have a mouth within, that is, in…
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On Psalms 125:3Saint Augustine of Hippo6. “Yea, the Lord hath done great things for us already, whereof we rejoice” (ver. 3). Consider, my brethren, if Sion doth not at present say this among the heathen, throughout the whole world; consider if men are not running unto the Church. In the whole world our redemption is received; Amen is answered. The dwellers in Jerusalem, therefore, captive, destined to return, pilgrims, sighing for their country,…
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On Psalms 125:4Saint Augustine of Hippo7. “Turn our captivity, O Lord, as the torrents in the south” (ver. 4). Consider, my brethren, what this meaneth.…As torrents are turned in the south, so turn our captivity. In a certain passage Scripture saith, in admonishing us concerning good works, “Thy sins also shall melt away, even as the ice in fair warm weather.” Our sins therefore bound us. How? As the cold bindeth the water that it run not. Bound with…
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On Psalms 125:5Saint Augustine of Hippo8. For the next words are, “They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy” (ver. 5). In this life, which is full of tears, let us sow. What shall we sow? Good works. Works of mercy are our seeds: of which seeds the Apostle saith, “Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” Speaking therefore of almsgiving itself, what saith he? “This I say; he that soweth sparingly, shall…
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On Psalms 125:6Open Psalms 125 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint Augustine of Hippo10. How, my brethren? When the farmer goeth forth with the plough, carrying seed, is not the wind sometimes keen, and doth not the shower sometimes deter him? He looketh to the sky, seeth it lowering, shivers with cold, nevertheless goeth forth, and soweth. For he feareth lest while he is observing the foul weather, and awaiting sunshine, the time may pass away, and he may not find anything to reap. Put not off,…
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