605. In convertendo

A paraphrase of Psalm 126, a Song of Ascents or pilgrimage hymn. The latter verses of this psalm have been set to music multiple times, including a motet by Heinrich Schütz ("Die mit Tränen säen") and parts of the first movement of Brahms' German Requiem. There it is combined with Matthew 5:4 ("Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted"), which I've taken the liberty of citing at the end of this hymn. ART: The Sower by Jean-François Millet, c. 1865, public domain.

Like a dream it was, O Lord,
When the captives You restored!
Zion's mouth was filled with laughter;
Throats welled forth in song thereafter.
Nations could not but discuss
What great things You did for us.

Great things You have done indeed:
Let us all the more be freed.
Freshen us, like washes streaming
With the springtime torrents gleaming.
Come captivity again,
Break, we pray, oh, break its chain!

Though with tears we till our field,
Fill with joy our harvest yield!
We who sow with voices weeping
Will return with gladness reaping.
Lord, who calls the mourner blest,
Give the weary captive rest!