What does Psalms Chapter 125 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Comfort and gladness follow returned captivity. Gentile words remain future and renewed return is requested. Weeping sowers shall return with joyful sheaves.

Chapter breakdown

In convertendo is the incipit, with a heading on God’s people rejoicing at captivity delivery and a gradual-canticle inscription. When the Lord returned Sion’s captivity, the speakers became like comforted men, mouths glad and tongues joyful. Comforted is not changed to dreaming. Gentiles shall say the Lord did great things for them; the speakers say He did great things for us and we are joyful. Future Gentile speech stays future.

They ask captivity turned again like a stream in the south. Sowers in tears shall reap joy; going they went weeping and casting seed, but coming they shall return joyfully with sheaves. The statement stays attributed, without Babylonian rebuilding, seasonal dry riverbeds or an independently certified guarantee that all suffering produces abundant harvest.

The story inside

Opening: Comfort and gladness follow returned captivity. Development: Gentile words remain future and renewed return is requested. Conclusion: Weeping sowers shall return with joyful sheaves.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Comfort and gladness follow returned captivity.
2
Gentile words remain future and renewed return is requested.
3
Weeping sowers shall return with joyful sheaves.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 66109–66114
125:1. When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted. 125:2. Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy. Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great things for them.
Lines 66120–66125
125:5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 125:6. Going they went and wept, casting their seeds. 125:7. But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.