Prayer book

Psalm 126 (127) — Song of Ascents

Psalmus 126 • Vulgate 126 / Hebrew 127

English, Latin

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About this text

Complete historical Scripture text: English Douay-Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752), based on the DRBO transcription identified as the John Murphy edition (1899), with the native-witness correction below; Latin Clementine Vulgate. Both underlying texts are public domain. Psalm 126 in Vulgate/Douay-Rheims numbering is Psalm 127 in modern Hebrew numbering (shown in parentheses). Numbered verses follow each source, retaining any superscriptions it prints; headings and verse divisions can differ between editions. This reader has 5 numbered verses in each language. It belongs to the fifteen gradual psalms (Songs of Ascents) in grant 9. Grant 30 concerns reverent spiritual reading of approved Scripture, with its specified duration for a plenary indulgence. English verse 5 has one disclosed correction: “filled the desire” is replaced by “filled his desire”, following the approved John Murphy 1914 text in the linked P. J. Kenedy reprint, printed page 649 (PDF page 662). The remaining wording follows the cited DRBO transcription. This is a corrected DRBO-based reading, not a complete transcription of the 1914 edition.

Text edition English: Douay-Rheims/Challoner, DRBO’s 1899-edition transcription, with one documented correction from the approved 1914 John Murphy text. Latin: Clementine Vulgate.

Use an ecclesiastically approved text when fulfilling a prayer grant. The displayed forms retain their own source histories and need not be literal line-by-line counterparts.

English text

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Estimated English reading time 30–75 seconds

How the estimate was made

Actual displayed source text; editorial vocal pace 100–160 words/minute. Rounded range; headings/rubrics within this displayed text are included, but verse numbers and V./R./Ant. labels are not counted.

Reading estimate only; it does not establish the duration or satisfy other conditions of a related indulgenced work.

1. Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it. 2. It is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to his beloved, 3. Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb. 4. As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken. 5. Blessed is the man that hath filled his desire with them; he shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate.

Latin text

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Estimated Latin reading time 30–55 seconds

How the estimate was made

Actual displayed source text; editorial vocal pace 80–140 words/minute. Rounded range; headings/rubrics within this displayed text are included, but verse numbers and V./R./Ant. labels are not counted.

Reading estimate only; it does not establish the duration or satisfy other conditions of a related indulgenced work.

1. Canticum graduum Salomonis. Nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum, in vanum laboraverunt qui aedificant eam. Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem, frustra vigilat qui custodit eam. 2. Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere : surgite postquam sederitis, qui manducatis panem doloris. Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum, 3. ecce haereditas Domini, filii; merces, fructus ventris. 4. Sicut sagittae in manu potentis, ita filii excussorum. 5. Beatus vir qui implevit desiderium suum ex ipsis : non confundetur cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta.

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Status labels below reflect the catalog as of 27 October 2026.

Text sources

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