| Psalms 125:1
| A gradual canticle. When the lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted.
| Sion. It cannot be doubted but this regards the captives of Babylon: but still David might compose it, as he was a prophet; and herein the redemption of mankind may also be described. (Berthier) --- The captives pray for the return of the rest of their brethren. (Calmet) --- Comforted. Hebrew, "dreaming." (Calmet) --- They could hardly believe their own eyes, like St. Peter, Acts 12:9. This extraordinary joy is felt by devout souls, when freed from sin. (Worthington) --- The Greek cities which the Romans declared free, could scarcely believe that they had understood the herald. Majus gaudium fuit, etc. (Livy xxxiii.) --- Thus were the Jews affected. (Calmet) (Psalm 13:2.) --- Chaldean, "we were like convalescents," which comes nearer to the sense of the Septuagint. (Berthier)
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| Psalms 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.
| Shall. Or "did;" (Calmet) though the future is here well employed. (Berthier) --- The prophet uses both tenses, shewing the certainty of the event. (Worthington) --- It would require some time before the Gentiles would become sufficiently acquainted with the concerns of the Jews. (Berthier) --- As soon as they did, they expressed their admiration, while the former were careful not to imitate the conduct of those who murmured at leaving Egypt. (St. Chrysostom)
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| Psalms 125:3
| The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful.
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| Psalms 125:4
| Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south.
| South. As the Egyptians hope for the overflowing of the Nile; (Hammond) or as the south wind melts the snow, so as to make the Jordan overflow its banks. (Theodoret) --- The return of our brethren will be as agreeable to us as water to a thirsty soil. (Chaldean) (Muis) --- Make them come quickly, and in great numbers, Isaias 60:3., and 66:12. (Calmet) --- Esdras brought back some, and Nehemias others, from Babylon. (Berthier) --- The ten tribes returned from Assyria later, and by degrees, (Calmet, Diss.) if at all. Those who arrived first at Jerusalem pray for the rest. (Berthier) --- The prophet foreseeing this event, desireth its perfect and speedy accomplishment, (Worthington) though it were scarcely to be expected, no more than (Haydock) a copious torrent in the south. (Worthington)
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| Psalms 125:5
| They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy.
| Joy. This was the case of the martyrs, etc., (Luke 6:21., and John 16:20.) as well as of the captives, Jeremias 31:9., Isaias 66:10., and Baruch 5:6. (Calmet) --- Tribulation commonly attends the virtuous in this life. Their reward is reserved for the next. (St. Augustine) (Worthington) --- Sowing, we know not whether we shall ever reap. (Haydock) --- This is a sort of proverb, which is applied to the captives. (Berthier)
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| Psalms 125:6
| Going they went and wept, casting their seeds.
| They. Hebrew, "he," which must be taken distributively for all. (Berthier)
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| Psalms 125:7
| But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.
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