I lift up my eyes to You, who live in heaven. Behold, like the eyes of a servant in the hand of his masters, like the eyes of a slave in the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are toward the Lord our God, until He will spare us. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we are filled with much humiliation, especially our souls are filled with the reproaches of the gobblers and the humiliation of the proud.
I have lifted up my eyes to You, who live in Heaven! As a slave looks at the hand of his master, as a slave looks at the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are directed to the Lord our God, in hope of His mercy. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have experienced many humiliations; But most of all we suffered reproach from the rich and humiliation from the proud.
Psalm 123
Song of degrees.
Song of Ascension, 123.
As if the Lord were not in us, let Israel say, as if the Lord were not in us, man would ever rise against us, for they would have devoured us alive; on us, otherwise the water would drown us. Let our soul pass over the stream, for our soul shall pass over the fickle waters. Blessed be the Lord, who will not let us be caught by their teeth. Our soul, like a bird, escaped from the net of those who caught it: the net was broken, and we were delivered. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who created heaven and earth.
If the Lord were not with us, let Israel say; If the Lord had not been with us when people rebelled against us, they would have swallowed us up alive. When their wrath came upon us, the waters of disaster would have drowned us. But our soul overcame the stream; Our soul has overcome the swift waters. Blessed be the Lord, Who did not give us to be torn to pieces by our enemies! Our soul, like a bird, has freed itself from the snares of the enemy; their nets were broken, and we were saved. Our help is the name of the Lord, who created heaven and earth!
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Slava:
Psalm 124
Song of degrees.
Song of Ascension, 124.
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion; they will not move in the living age in Jerusalem. The mountains are around him, and the Lord is around His people from now on and forever. For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners for the lot of the righteous, lest they lay down righteousness in the iniquity of their hands. Please, Lord, those who are good and right in heart. But the Lord will take away those who stray into corruption with those who practice iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion; Those who live in Jerusalem will never be shaken! The mountains overshadow them, and the Lord overshadows His people from now on and forever. For the Lord does not give sinners power over the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to iniquity. Grant, Lord, blessings to those who are kind and righteous at heart! And the Lord will punish people who are corrupt and commit lawlessness. Peace to Israel!
Psalm 125
Song of degrees.
Song of Ascension, 125.
Once upon a time the captivity of Zion would be returned to the Lord as a source of consolation. Then our lips were filled with joy and our tongue was filled with gladness, then they cried among the nations: “The Lord has magnified to do with them.” The Lord has magnified to do with us: we will be rejoicing. Return, Lord, our captivity, like the floods of the south. They will sow with tears and reap with joy. Those who walk and weep, scattering their seeds, will come with joy in the future, grasping their hands.
When the Lord returned the sons of Zion from captivity, how we were comforted! Then our lips were filled with joy, our tongue with gladness; Then the nations said: “The Lord has done great things for them!” The Lord did great things for us, and we rejoiced. Bring back, O Lord, all our captives, like streams driven by the south wind! The tears that sow will reap joy. Those who went into captivity cried and dropped their tears like seeds; and those who return will come in joy and reap a harvest.
Psalm 126
Song of degrees.
Song of Ascent, 126.
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord preserves the city, watch in vain. It is in vain for you to exercise, you will rise gray, eating the bread of sickness, when He gives sleep to His beloved. Behold the heritage of the Lord, the reward of the fruit of the womb. Like arrows in the arm of a strong man, so the sons of the shaken. Blessed is he who gets his desire from them. They will not be ashamed when they speak against their enemies in the gates.
Unless the Lord lays the foundation of a house, its builders labor in vain; If the Lord does not preserve the city, the guards watch in vain. It is in vain that you rise to your labors at dawn. You who taste sorrow like bread, get up, well rested, for the Lord will give sleep to His beloved. This is the inheritance of the Lord - the sons begotten by us, our reward. Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the young sons of exiles. Blessed is the one whose desires they fulfill! They will not be put to shame when they repel their enemies at the gates of the city.
Psalm 127
Song of degrees.
Song of Ascension, 127.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. Bear the labors of Your fruits: blessed are You, and good will come to You. Your wife is like a vine, she is fruitful in the lands of your house, your sons are like new olive trees around your table. This is how a man will be blessed if he fears the Lord. The Lord will bless thee from Zion, and thou shalt see good Jerusalem all the days of thy life, and thou shalt see the sons of thy sons. Peace be upon Israel.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways! You will eat the fruits of your labors; Blessed are you, and good will come to you! Your wife is like a fruitful vine within the walls of your house; Your sons are like olive shoots at your table. Thus will the man who fears the Lord be blessed! The Lord will bless you from the heights of Zion, and you will see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life, and you will see the sons of your sons. Peace to Israel!
Psalm 128
Song of degrees.
Song of Ascent, 128.
You have fought with me in multitudes since my youth; let Israel say: You have fought with me in multitudes since my youth, because you have not prevailed against me. On my ridge is the work of a sinner, continuing her lawlessness. The Lord is righteous in cutting off the necks of sinners. Let all who hate Zion be ashamed and turn back. Let them be like the grass of this place, even before the rapture of the past, even though you have not filled your hand with reaping, and gathered the depths of your hand, and not resolved the things that pass by: the blessing of the Lord is upon you, we bless you in the name of the Lord.
Many times from my youth have my enemies fought with me! - let Israel say; Many times from my youth they fought with me, but did not defeat me!
Sinners forced me to work for them, multiplying their iniquities. But the righteous Lord put sinners to death. Let the haters of Zion be put to shame and turn back! Let them be like the grass on the housetop that dries up before it is plucked up! The reaper will not take her into his handful, nor will he who binds the sheaves gather her; And those passing by will not say: “The blessing of the Lord is upon you, we bless you in the name of the Lord!”
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Slava:
Psalm 129
Song of degrees.
Song of Ascension, 129.
From the depths I cried to You, Lord, Lord, hear my voice. Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my prayer. If you see lawlessness, Lord, Lord, who will stand? For You have purification. For Thy name's sake I have endured Thee, O Lord, my soul has endured in Thy word; my soul trusteth in the Lord. From the morning watch until the night, from the morning watch let Israel trust in the Lord. For the Lord has mercy, and His deliverance is abundant, and He will deliver Israel from all its iniquities.
From the depths I cried to You, Lord; Lord, hear my voice! May Your ears listen to my prayer! If You look at our iniquities, Lord, Lord, who can stand? For only You grant us purification. Honoring Your holy name, I hope in You, Lord; My soul trusts in Your word; my soul trusts in the Lord. From the morning watch until the night, from the morning watch, may Israel trust in the Lord! For with the Lord is mercy, and great is his deliverance; and He will deliver Israel from all their iniquities.
Psalm 130
Song of degrees.
Song of Ascent, 130.