When the Lord
brought home
the captives
of Zion,
it seemed to us like a dream.
Our mouths
were filled with laughter,
on our lips
were songs.
For those who are sowing,
in tears are going,
carrying
the seed.
But coming back,
they come back singing,
carrying
the sheaves.
What great things,
what marvels
has the Lord done for us;
for this
we are full of joy.
For those who are sowing…
Those who go sowing,
they are
in sadness,
but when they reap,
they shout for joy.
For those who are sowing…

A sower went out to sow
and some of the seed fell on the road.
The birds came down, they ate it up,
they devoured it,
they devoured it.
A sower went out to sow
and some of the seed fell on the rock.
A sower went out to sow,
and some of the seed fell on the rock.
The sun came out and dried it up:
it had no soil,
it had no soil.
A sower went out to sow
and some of the seed fell among thorns.
A sower went out to sow
and some of the seed fell among thorns.
The seeds grew, the thorns grew,
they stifled it,
they stifled it.
A sower went out to sow
and some of the seed fell on the soil.
A sower went out to sow
and some of the seed fell on the soil.
It bore fruit, some thirtyfold,
some sixtyfold,
and some a hundred.
He who has ears
and wants to hear,
listen,
listen:
Don’t be the road,
don’t be the road,
don’t be the rock,
don’t be the rock,
don’t be the thorns,
don’t be the thorns,
but be the soil,
the good soil,
where Jesus
may grow,
where Jesus
may grow.