The Message (MSG)

A Pilgrim Song of Solomon

1-2 IfGoddoesn’t build the house,

the builders only build shacks.

IfGoddoesn’t guard the city,

the night watchman might as well nap.

It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,

and work your worried fingers to the bone.

Don’t you know he enjoys

giving rest to those he loves?

3-5 Don’t you see that children areGod’s best gift?

the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?

Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows

are the children of a vigorous youth.

Oh, how blessed are you parents,

with your quivers full of children!

Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you;

you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/127-9ba94193bfcd0c898cc3ab2d76edc169.mp3?version_id=97—

A Pilgrim Song

1-2 All you who fearGod, how blessed you are!

how happily you walk on his smooth straight road!

You worked hard and deserve all you’ve got coming.

Enjoy the blessing! Revel in the goodness!

3-4 Your wife will bear children as a vine bears grapes,

your household lush as a vineyard,

The children around your table

as fresh and promising as young olive shoots.

Stand in awe of God’s Yes.

Oh, how he blesses the one who fearsGod!

5-6 Enjoy the good life in Jerusalem

every day of your life.

And enjoy your grandchildren.

Peace to Israel!

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/128-73048f75f3413837845d1a7b6c3ef977.mp3?version_id=97—

A Pilgrim Song

1-4 “They’ve kicked me around ever since I was young”

—this is how Israel tells it—

“They’ve kicked me around ever since I was young,

but they never could keep me down.

Their plowmen plowed long furrows

up and down my back;

ButGodwouldn’t put up with it,

he sticks with us.

ThenGodripped the harnesses

of the evil plowmen to shreds.”

5-8 Oh, let all those who hate Zion

grovel in humiliation;

Let them be like grass in shallow ground

that withers before the harvest,

Before the farmhands can gather it in,

the harvesters get in the crop,

Before the neighbors have a chance to call out,

“Congratulations on your wonderful crop!

We bless you inGod’s name!”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/129-cda53aba21a7b56fddb10b51c5a2fe8d.mp3?version_id=97—

A Pilgrim Song

1-2 Help,God—the bottom has fallen out of my life!

Master, hear my cry for help!

Listen hard! Open your ears!

Listen to my cries for mercy.

3-4 If you,God, kept records on wrongdoings,

who would stand a chance?

As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,

and that’s why you’re worshiped.

5-6 I pray toGod—my life a prayer—

and wait for what he’ll say and do.

My life’s on the line before God, my Lord,

waiting and watching till morning,

waiting and watching till morning.

7-8 O Israel, wait and watch forGod—

withGod’s arrival comes love,

withGod’s arrival comes generous redemption.

No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel,

buy back Israel from captivity to sin.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/130-9b90d3c898a0df7046d86a3130303930.mp3?version_id=97—

A Pilgrim Song

1 God, I’m not trying to rule the roost,

I don’t want to be king of the mountain.

I haven’t meddled where I have no business

or fantasized grandiose plans.

2 I’ve kept my feet on the ground,

I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.

Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,

my soul is a baby content.

3 Wait, Israel, forGod. Wait with hope.

Hope now; hope always!

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/131-2aa9f2d24a2013add30ff5b58f49ebde.mp3?version_id=97—

A Pilgrim Song

1-5 OGod, remember David,

remember all his troubles!

And remember how he promisedGod,

made a vow to the Strong God of Jacob,

“I’m not going home,

and I’m not going to bed,

I’m not going to sleep,

not even take time to rest,

Until I find a home forGod,

a house for the Strong God of Jacob.”

6-7 Remember how we got the news in Ephrathah,

learned all about it at Jaar Meadows?

We shouted, “Let’s go to the shrine dedication!

Let’s worship at God’s own footstool!”

8-10 Up,God, enjoy your new place of quiet repose,

you and your mighty covenant ark;

Get your priests all dressed up in justice;

prompt your worshipers to sing this prayer:

“Honor your servant David;

don’t disdain your anointed one.”

11-18 Godgave David his word,

he won’t back out on this promise:

“One of your sons

I will set on your throne;

If your sons stay true to my Covenant

and learn to live the way I teach them,

Their sons will continue the line—

always a son to sit on your throne.

Yes—I,God, chose Zion,

the place I wanted for my shrine;

This will always be my home;

this is what I want, and I’m here for good.

I’ll shower blessings on the pilgrims who come here,

and give supper to those who arrive hungry;

I’ll dress my priests in salvation clothes;

the holy people will sing their hearts out!

Oh, I’ll make the place radiant for David!

I’ll fill it with light for my anointed!

I’ll dress his enemies in dirty rags,

but I’ll make his crown sparkle with splendor.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/132-48c2ebe1bf550b8671bc912d9c7e3c12.mp3?version_id=97—

A Pilgrim Song of David

1-3 How wonderful, how beautiful,

when brothers and sisters get along!

It’s like costly anointing oil

flowing down head and beard,

Flowing down Aaron’s beard,

flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.

It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon

flowing down the slopes of Zion.

Yes, that’s whereGodcommands the blessing,

ordains eternal life.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/133-e2ffd2fd9cd6b574b9f5171583e0b9a5.mp3?version_id=97—

A Pilgrim Song

1-3 Come, blessGod,

all you servants ofGod!

You priests ofGod,posted to the nightwatch

inGod’s shrine,

Lift your praising hands to the Holy Place,

and blessGod.

In turn, mayGodof Zion bless you—

Godwho made heaven and earth!

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/134-7aa2ff279ba028144d82248ee2ad1def.mp3?version_id=97—

1-4 Hallelujah!

Praise the name ofGod,

praise the works ofGod.

All you priests on duty inGod’s temple,

serving in the sacred halls of our God,

Shout “Hallelujah!” becauseGod’s so good,

sing anthems to his beautiful name.

And why? BecauseGodchose Jacob,

embraced Israel as a prize possession.

5-12 I, too, give witness to the greatness ofGod,

our Lord, high above all other gods.

He does just as he pleases—

however, wherever, whenever.

He makes the weather—clouds and thunder,

lightning and rain, wind pouring out of the north.

He struck down the Egyptian firstborn,

both human and animal firstborn.

He made Egypt sit up and take notice,

confronted Pharaoh and his servants with miracles.

Yes, he struck down great nations,

he slew mighty kings—

Sihon king of the Amorites, also Og of Bashan—

every last one of the Canaanite kings!

Then he turned their land over to Israel,

a gift of good land to his people.

13-18 God, your name is eternal,

God, you’ll never be out-of-date.

Godstands up for his people,

Godholds the hands of his people.

The gods of the godless nations are mere trinkets,

made for quick sale in the markets:

Chiseled mouths that can’t talk,

painted eyes that can’t see,

Carved ears that can’t hear—

dead wood! cold metal!

Those who make and trust them

become like them.

19-21 Family of Israel, blessGod!

Family of Aaron, blessGod!

Family of Levi, blessGod!

You who fearGod, blessGod!

Oh, blessed beGodof Zion,

First Citizen of Jerusalem!

Hallelujah!

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/135-acaa78cd293e23f3315fca7e033e9871.mp3?version_id=97—

1-3 ThankGod! He deserves your thanks.

His love never quits.

Thank the God of all gods,

His love never quits.

Thank the Lord of all lords.

His love never quits.

4-22 Thank the miracle-working God,

His love never quits.

The God whose skill formed the cosmos,

His love never quits.

The God who laid out earth on ocean foundations,

His love never quits.

The God who filled the skies with light,

His love never quits.

The sun to watch over the day,

His love never quits.

Moon and stars as guardians of the night,

His love never quits.

The God who struck down the Egyptian firstborn,

His love never quits.

And rescued Israel from Egypt’s oppression,

His love never quits.

Took Israel in hand with his powerful hand,

His love never quits.

Split the Red Sea right in half,

His love never quits.

Led Israel right through the middle,

His love never quits.

Dumped Pharaoh and his army in the sea,

His love never quits.

The God who marched his people through the desert,

His love never quits.

Smashed huge kingdoms right and left,

His love never quits.

Struck down the famous kings,

His love never quits.

Struck Sihon the Amorite king,

His love never quits.

Struck Og the Bashanite king,

His love never quits.

Then distributed their land as booty,

His love never quits.

Handed the land over to Israel.

His love never quits.

23-26 God remembered us when we were down,

His love never quits.

Rescued us from the trampling boot,

His love never quits.

Takes care of everyone in time of need.

His love never quits.

Thank God, who did it all!

His love never quits!

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/136-f84ac3c8f2ea95c65ba8d26f4e7cbbf1.mp3?version_id=97—