Psalm 126
When Yahweh restored the fortunes of Zion, * we became like the sands of the sea.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, * and our tongue with shouts of joy.
Then even the nations said: * "Yahweh showed his greatness * by working with them."Yahweh showed his greatness * by working with us; * we became happy.
Yahweh restored our fortunes * like torrents in the Negeb.Those who sowed in tears * have reaped with shouts of joy.
Though weeping he went forth, * carrying his seed—bag,
he came home with shouts of joy, * carrying his bundles of grain.
1. A gradual canticle.
126:0 This is Psalm 126, the 7th of the Gradual Psalms, the 2nd of those that pertain to progress in good. After the firmness of purpose in persevering in the good, the second step, which is necessary for anyone to make progress, is devotion in doing good. After the same title as the preceding Psalms, this Psalm is about the devotion of one who is making progress in doing good. So he expresses (1) the feeling of his devotion, (2) his progress in doing good: "Those who sowed in tears". In the first, he (1) expresses the feeling of the devotion and fervor that he has, (2) he asks for an increase of devotion and freedom from all laziness: "Yahweh restored our fortunes". In the first, there are two causes of his happiness and joy: (1) the deliverance of his soul from the captivity of sin, (2) the rejoicing of the liberated soul: "Then even the nations". In the first there is (1) the cause of consolation, (2) the consolation itself: "we became", (3) the manner of consolation: "Then our mouth".
When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted. 2. Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy.
When Yahweh restored the fortunes of Zion, we became like the sands of the sea. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.126:1.1.1 The idea is: With this formation, they ascend to the sixth step, which is that of firm purpose, both in acting and in suffering. Thus, when Yahweh brought back the captivity of Zion, the soul which was born to contemplate and think about God. The Prophet is not referring to the historical liberation from the Babylonian captivity. —Jer 31:23 When I change their lot in the land of Judah and her cities, they shall again repeat this greeting: "May Yahweh bless you, holy mountain, abode of justice!" —Jer 29:14 I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, but his intention is the conversion of the soul from the captivity of sin. —Amos 9:14 I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel. —Jer 31:8 I will bring them back from the land of the north; I will gather them from the ends of the earth. The north is the place of cold wind; the ends of the earth is the extremity of cupidity. As for what they converted to —Jer 30:3 I will bring them back to the land, the high land of the Church, which I gave their fathers.
When the Lord did this, we became consoled. This is not a quasi—consolation, but the real thing. —Is 12:1 Though you were angry with me, your anger has past and you give me comfort. —Ps 53:6 When God restores his people's fortune, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad. —Mt 5:4 Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted by himself. It is not surprising for someone to rejoice and be consoled at his own or another person's conversion, because his very angel rejoices. —Luke 15:7 There will be more joy in heaven, among the angels of God, over one sinner who repents. God also rejoices —Luke 15:32 It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.
The manner of consolation is expressed in (1) affective interior joy, (2) effective exterior joy: "and our tongue". The idea is: We are consoled at that conversion, and our mouth was filled with laughter, that is, the interior mouth of our heart or affection, which tastes things. —Mt 15:18 What comes from the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man. And our tongue with shouts of joy: this is external exaltation or jubilation. —Mt 12:34 From the abundance of the heart the tongue speaks. —Job 8:20 Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers, until he fills your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting. This is a great consolation. Note that there is (1) the consolation of the world, which is vain —Luke 6:24 Woe to your rich, for you have received your reward. And there is (2) the consolation of hope, which is certain —Ps 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your word sustains my life. And there is (3) the consolation of God, which is full and perfect —Mt 5:4 Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great things for them.
Then even the nations said: "Yahweh showed his greatness by working with them."126:1.1.2.1 Here is the second cause of exultation and joy, the extolling of the liberated soul, (1) by others, (2) by itself: "Yahweh showed his greatness by working with us". The idea is: We are happy and consoled at the conversion of the soul from captivity, and not ourselves alone, but consequently even some people from the nations said: "Yahweh showed his greatness by working with them", that is, he infused great grace in them to do great things. —Rom 8:30 Those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. —Judith 13:31 (Vul) Every nation that hears your name will glorify the God of Israel because of you. —Is 12:5 Sing to Yahweh, for he has acted gloriously. —Luke 1:58 Her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
3. The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful.
Yahweh showed his greatness by working with us; we became happy.126:1.1.2.2 Here the liberated soul is extolled by itself. And there is (1) thanksgiving for the greatness of this fact, (2) a consequent exultation: "we became happy". The idea is: The nations say, and we do too, that Yahweh showed his greatness by working with us, by making us do great things through his grace. —Judith 13:11 God, our God, is with us. Once more he has made manifest his strength in Israel. —Tob 13:6 In the land of my exile I praise him. Why? Because he has shown his immense majesty. —Mal 1:5 Great is Yahweh, beyond the borders of Israel.
We became happy. Rejoice and praise God, because he has acted magnificently. —Is 12:6 Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. —Is 58:14 Then you will take delight in Yahweh, (that is your joy, and the reason is:) and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth.
4. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south.
Yahweh restored our fortunes like torrents in the Negeb.126:1.2 After showing the joy and devotion over the delivery from misery and captivity, he asks for perfect liberation: (1) to be delivered from captivity, (2) in a certain manner: "like torrents". The idea is: We are happy and consoled at our deliverance and our being given such a magnificent grace, but, because attacks keep coming, Yahweh, you alone who are able, reverse more fully and perfectly our captivity, that is, free us. —Ps 68:19 You took captives. —Lam 5:21 Restore us to yourself, Yahweh, that we may be restored. —Zeph 3:20 I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes. —Jer 31:18 Turn me back and I will turn back.
As for the manner, he says: Turn us, so that we may shed tears like torrents in the Negeb, when the warm breeze of the Holy Spirit melts what was frozen by the north wind; then we will totally melt in tears. —Cant 4:16 Awake, O north wind, the devil, and go, and come, O south wind; for God comes from the south. —Job 37:17 Your garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind.
5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Those who sowed in tears have reaped with shouts of joy.126:2.1 Here he shows his progress in doing good, through the image of the sower. Everything said here can apply to the work of preaching or also of piety. He mentions (1) the work of sowing and its fruit, (2) more detail on the manner of sowing: "Though weeping", (3) the manner of gathering and collecting the fruit: "he came home". In the first, he takes up (1) the work of preaching, or of giving alms out of compassion, (2) the fruit: "with shouts of joy". The idea is: Lord, I ask you to give them the gift of tears in abundance, because those who sowed in tears are those who preach or do works of mercy from compassion of heart, shedding tears.
It should be noted that (1) God sows graces and virtues —Mt 13:27 Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? And (2) the man Christ sows good example. —Is 1:9 If Yahweh of Armies had not left us a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom, or like Gomorrah. (3) The prelate sows the world of God and of doctrine —Luke 8:5 The sower went out to sow his seed. (4) A just man sows the seed of works of justice and mercy —Prov 11:18 The sower of righteousness gets a sure reward. —Qoheleth 11:6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand. —Gal 5:6 He who sows in the flesh will reap corruption. (5) The devil sows vices, heresies and schisms. —Mt 13:25 While the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
Therefore, those who sow the word of preaching or works of piety, and water what they have sowed with tears, will reap with shouts of joy. —Prov 10:28 The hope of the just ends in gladness. And he will laugh on the last day, having reaped eternal life from such little seed. —2 Cor 9:6 He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully, that is, eternal life. —Gal 6:7 Whatever a man sows, that he will reap.
6. Going they went and wept, casting their seeds.
Though weeping he went forth, carrying his seed—bag,126:2.2 Having briefly talked of sowing and its fruit, here he goes into greater detail, taking up: (1) turning away from evil, (2) turning to good: "he went forth", (3) compassion: "weeping", (4) the sowing of words in preaching or of works of mercy in almsgiving: "carrying his see—bag". The idea is: I said that the saints sow in tears, and that is true, because in those days holy men went forth, from evil to good, or from good to better, or from the quiet of contemplation to the sweat of action —Luke 10:3 Go, I send you. —John 15:16 I chose you and appointed you that you should go out. For the preacher, and any such like man, should go out, and not stay and rest —Mt 20:6 Why do you stay here idle all day? —Prov 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. He was weeping with his bodily eyes —Job 30:25 I wept for him when his day was hard, and my soul grieved for the poor. And he wept interiorly with sighs and groans —Rom 8:23 We ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly. He was carrying his seed—bag, sowing by preaching or almsgiving —Is 32:20 Happy are you who sow beside all waters. The waters are the poor, flowing alongside the land —Qoheleth 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. —Is 58:7 Share your bread with the hungry .
7. But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.
he came home with shouts of joy, carrying his bundles of grain.126:2.3 Here he talks about the manner of collecting and receiving the reward, showing: (1) his going out of present misery, (2) his happy arrival at eternal goods: "they shall come", (3) the reason for his joy, which is the public presentation of the goods he earned: "carrying his bundles". The idea is: They went out sowing, and then came back from present misery —Bar 4:37 They are coming, gathered from east and west.
He came with shouts of joy to eternal joy —Is 51:11 They will come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. —Is 66:18—19 They will come and see my glory, and I will set a sign among them, when they will be told —Mt 25:34 Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.
Carrying his bundles of grain, his collection of good works, for which he is being rewarded. —Rev 14:13 For their deeds follow them. —Ex 23:15 You shall not appear before me empty—handed. —Prov 31:31 Give her from the fruit of her hands. —Gal 6:7 Whatever a man sows, that he will reap. —Lev 23:10 When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest. —Bar 4:23 God will give you back to me with joy and gladness for ever, with joy for the good you have done, with gladness for the reward you receive. May he bring us to that who is blessed for all ages. Amen.