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| 1 [[A Song of Ascents.]] When Yahweh brought back the captives of Zion, we were like them who dream:
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| 2 Then, was our mouth, filled with laughter, and our tongue with a shout of triumph,–Then, said they among the nations, Yahweh, hath done great things, with these! |
Tongue with singing – While the whole creation groans, the saintly few may sing, may rejoice. R4892:5
As Israel left Babylon with great joy, so we who have gotten free from mystic Babylon rejoice exceedingly and would not go back under any consideration. R3643:4
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| 3 Yahweh, hath done great things with us, we are full of joy! |
For us – For natural Israel upon her return from literal Babylon; for spiritual Israel upon her return from mystic Babylon. R3643:1, R4892:2
We are glad – Those not thus stirred in spirit may as well stay in Babylon, as they would only prove snares and stumbling blocks to others. R2510:5
These have joy and peace because he grants to them a knowledge of his divine purposes and of things to come. R4892:5
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| 4 Bring thou back, O Yahweh, our captives, like channels in the South. |
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| 5 They who are sowing with tears, with shouting, shall reap: |
They that sow – The work of seed sowing was to be one of the main features of the Church's work until the Harvest, but the work of the harvest time is altogether different. R885:2*
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| 6 He that, doth indeed go forth, and weep, bearing seed enough to trail along, doth, surely come in, with shouting, bringing his sheaves. |
And weepeth – Feeling the importance and cost of the work in self-sacrifice. R785:1
Touched with sympathy for the blinded and suffering. R935:5*
Doubtless come again – We "know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58); we will see some of the fruit. R785:1
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