Chapter Text
126:1 A Song of the Ascents. In Jehovah's turning back <FI>to<Fi> the captivity of Zion, We have been as dreamers.
126:2 Then filled <FI>with<Fi> laughter is our mouth, And our tongue <FI>with<Fi> singing, Then do they say among nations, `Jehovah did great things with these.'
126:3 Jehovah did great things with us, We have been joyful.
126:4 Turn again, O Jehovah, <FI>to<Fi> our captivity, As streams in the south.
126:5 Those sowing in tears, with singing do reap,
126:6 Whoso goeth on and weepeth, Bearing the basket of seed, Surely cometh in with singing, bearing his sheaves!
Study Lenses
The verse centers on "song", "ascents", "jehovah's", "turning", "back", "captivity", "zion", and "been". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "song" and "ascents", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.
The local YLT text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "song" and "ascents" carries the first interpretive weight. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.
A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "song" and "ascents" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.