1
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion,
We were like them that dream,
We were like them that dream.
We were like them that dream,
We were like them that dream.
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion,
We were like them that dream,
We were like them that dream.
We were like them that dream,
We were like them that dream.
2
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing:
Then said they among the nations,
The Lord hath done great things,
The Lord hath done great things for them.
And our tongue with singing:
Then said they among the nations,
The Lord hath done great things,
The Lord hath done great things for them.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing:
Then said they among the nations,
The Lord hath done great things,
The Lord hath done great things for them.
And our tongue with singing:
Then said they among the nations,
The Lord hath done great things,
The Lord hath done great things for them.
The Lord hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
The Lord hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
Whereof we are glad.
The Lord hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
The Lord hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
The Lord hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
Whereof we are glad.
The Lord hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
3
Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams,
As the streams in the south,
As the streams in the south.
As the streams in the south,
As the streams in the south.
Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams,
As the streams in the south,
As the streams in the south.
As the streams in the south,
As the streams in the south.
4
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy,
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy,
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
5
He that goeth forth and weepeth,
Bearing precious seed, shall doubtless,
Come again with rejoicing,
Come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
Bearing precious seed, shall doubtless,
Come again with rejoicing,
Come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
He that goeth forth and weepeth,
Bearing precious seed, shall doubtless,
Come again with rejoicing,
Come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
Bearing precious seed, shall doubtless,
Come again with rejoicing,
Come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
The Lord hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
The Lord hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
Whereof we are glad.
The Lord hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
The Lord hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
The Lord hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
Whereof we are glad.
The Lord hath done great things for us;
Whereof we are glad.
6
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion,
We were like them that dream,
We were like them that dream.
We were like them that dream,
We were like them that dream.
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion,
We were like them that dream,
We were like them that dream.
We were like them that dream,
We were like them that dream.
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THE CAPTIVITY TURNED
Now we come to Psalm 126, another outstanding psalm in this section. It opens in this way: “When Jehovah turned again the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream” (v. 1). The turning of their captivity was like a dream because it was too good, too great, too wonderful, and it occurred so quickly. You remember the account of Peter’s release from prison in Acts 12. When he came to the door of Mary’s house, the people reacted as if they were in a dream. It seemed too good to be true. Peter himself, when he was first released, imagined that he was in a dream. But the release of Peter from prison is quite insignificant when compared with the return of the captivity. Many times when I have considered the recovery of the church life, I also have felt as if I were in a dream. It is so good. We never expected it, and it came so quickly. I believe that many of you feel this way also. You would say, “Now I am in the church life! Two years ago I would never have thought I would be here, and even a few months ago I never imagined this. But, Hallelujah, here I am. I must be dreaming! ” It is too wonderful; it is too sweet; it is something which has transpired so quickly and unexpectedly. Hallelujah, we are the returned captivity, and we are all in a wonderful dream. Yet, praise the Lord, it is so real! The Lord has turned the captivity of Zion.
For many years I was familiar with the last two verses of Psalm 126: “Those who sow in tears Will reap with a ringing shout. He who goes forth and weeps, Bearing seed for scattering, Will no doubt come in with a ringing shout, Bearing his sheaves with him” (vv. 5-6). I never realized, however, that these two verses are the psalmist’s words for the return of the captivity. When we cry to the Lord to turn our captivity, the tears flow down. Many dear saints in ancient times experienced this. They wept as they prayed for the return of the captivity. Then they went out to sow the seed, the seed of turning, the seed of recovery.
Christ and the Church Revealed and Typified in the Psalms
Chapter 21 (LSM)
Irvine, CA, United States
The Lord hath done great things for us!
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
This is a psalmist’s delight
A song of hope, belief and faith
Glory to God!
Lakeland, Florida, United States
I used to sing this song at the Bread of Life Church in South Buffalo. We used a guitar. I could sing it to you. I cannot find it the way that we sang it on YouTube.
It is a very lovely song.
Ondin, United Kingdom
Very uplifting. Blessed be the songwriter. Blessed be all those whose hope is in the Lord. Their tears will be turned to joy and they will weep no more. How great Thou art. Amen
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Beautiful the hope we have! Thank you for sharing this song. Very encouraging!
London, United Kingdom
I Like the tune. But I am not clear how to sing stanzas 3,4,5,6. Can someone help out? I won't mind an actual singing of all the lines in my email, if possible.
Grace