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Psalm 128 English Standard Version (ESV)

Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

 

128 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
  who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
  you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
  within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
  around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
  who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion!
  May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
  all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children’s children!
  Peace be upon Israel!

 

Reflection

• “Fear of the Lord”, the Old Testament respect for God that motivates obedience, is the path of blessing for all of us. In most cases, the blessing will be obvious: long life, prosperity, a large and happy family.
• These are the things that the Jews of biblical times wished for one another as they gathered for worship. Peace and prosperity.
• This psalm beautifully tied family and nation together in the thinking of the pilgrim Israelite who traveled with his family to Jerusalem for a national feast. It is a reminder of the importance of God’s blessing on both home and nation that are mutually dependent. Families and nations can only succeed with God’s blessing.
• Pray for your family and your nation to fear the Lord and to enjoy God’s blessings.