Psalm 128

The way of the Lord is full of peace and wellness. Blessed are those who follow it.

Blessings of Those Who Fear the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

1 Blessed is every one who fears the Lord,

Who walks in His ways.

2 When you eat the labor of your hands,

You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine

In the very heart of your house,

Your children like olive plants

All around your table.

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

Who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you out of Zion,

And may you see the good of Jerusalem

All the days of your life.

6 Yes, may you see your children's children.

Peace be upon Israel!

The NKJV Study Bible says this: The feasts of ancient Israel were family affairs. As families made their way to the holy city for the annual festivals, they would encounter other families and mutually celebrate the goodness of God in their lives. Psalm 128 is the ninth song of ascent. The structure of the poem is as follows: (1) a blessing on the righteous (v. 1); (2) a description of the blessing (vv. 2–4); (3) a prayer for the blessing (v. 5); (3) a blessing on the community (v. 6). The word blessed describes the happiness of those who trust in the Lord and do His will. The fear of God is an attitude of respect, a response of reverence and wonder. It is the only appropriate response to our Creator and Redeemer. There is a reward in work and a satisfaction in labor that is a blessing of God. Bearing children was a mark of God's blessing. This is the psalmist's prayer for the man who desires for his own family the blessings described in the psalm. This priestly prayer of blessing includes a desire for longevity and for happy posterity in the land. Only when God grants His peace on His people will the ideal conditions of family life be realized. Therefore, whoever prays for the blessing of God on a family also prays for the blessing of God's peace on the community as a whole.