Psalms

Psalm 126:1–4

¹A song of ascents.

When the LORD restored the captives of Zion,^a

we were like dreamers.^b

²Then our mouths were filled with laughter,

our tongues with shouts of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

“The LORD has done great things for them.”

³The LORD has done great things for us;

we are filled with joy.

⁴Restore our captives,^c O LORD,

like streams in the Negev.

Footnotes

a 126:1 Or brought back the captives to Zion or restored the fortunes of Zion
b 126:1 Or like those restored to health
c 126:4 Or Restore our fortunes

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
A song	שִׁ֗יר	šîr	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7892 song
of ascents	הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת	ham·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H4609 what comes up
When the LORD	יְ֭הוָה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
restored	בְּשׁ֣וּב	bə·šūḇ	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7725 turn back, return
the captives	שִׁיבַ֣ת	šî·ḇaṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H7870 return
of Zion	צִיּ֑וֹן	ṣî·yō·wn	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H6726 Zion
we were	הָ֝יִ֗ינוּ	hā·yî·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
like dreamers	כְּחֹלְמִֽים׃	kə·ḥō·lə·mîm	Preposition-k; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H2492 be healthy, strong

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then	אָ֤ז	’āz	Adverb	H227 at that time, then
our mouths	פִּינוּ֮	pî·nū	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common plural	H6310 mouth
were filled	יִמָּלֵ֪א	yim·mā·lê	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4390 be full, fill
with laughter	שְׂח֡וֹק	śə·ḥō·wq	Noun - masculine singular	H7814 laughter, derision, sport
our tongues	וּלְשׁוֹנֵ֪נוּ	ū·lə·šō·w·nê·nū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - common singular construct; first person common plural	H3956 tongue
with shouts of joy	רִ֫נָּ֥ה	rin·nāh	Noun - feminine singular	H7440 ringing cry
Then	אָ֭ז	’āz	Adverb	H227 at that time, then
it was said	יֹאמְר֣וּ	yō·mə·rū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
among the nations	בַגּוֹיִ֑ם	ḇag·gō·w·yim	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H1471 nation, people
The LORD	יְ֝הוָ֗ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
has done	לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת	la·‘ă·śō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6213 do, make
great	הִגְדִּ֥יל	hiḡ·dîl	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1431 grow up, become great
things for	עִם־	‘im-	Preposition	H5973 with
them	אֵֽלֶּה׃	’êl·leh	Pronoun - common plural	H428 these

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The LORD	יְ֭הוָה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
has done	לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת	la·‘ă·śō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6213 do, make
great	הִגְדִּ֣יל	hiḡ·dîl	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1431 grow up, become great
things for us	עִמָּ֗נוּ	‘im·mā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H5973 with
we are	הָיִ֥ינוּ	hā·yî·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
filled with joy	שְׂמֵחִֽים׃	śə·mê·ḥîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H8056 glad, joyful, merry

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Restore	שׁוּבָ֣ה	šū·ḇāh	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H7725 turn back, return
our captives	שְׁבוּתֵנוּ	šə·ḇū·ṯē·nū	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common plural	H7622 exile, prisoners, former state of prosperity
O LORD	יְ֭הוָה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
like streams	כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים	ka·’ă·p̄î·qîm	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine plural	H650 channel
in the Negev	בַּנֶּֽגֶב׃	ban·ne·ḡeḇ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5045 south-country, Negeb, south