A gradual canticle. Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.
The Lord thy God will bring back again thy captivity, and will have mercy on thee, and gather thee again out of all the nations, into which he scattered thee before.
And I will be found by you, saith the Lord: and I will bring back your captivity, and I will gather you out of all nations and from all the places to which I have driven you out, saith the Lord: and I will bring you back from the place to which I caused you to be carried away captive:
Surely I will also cast off the seed of Jacob and of David my servant, so as not to take any of his seed to be rulers of the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will bring back their captivity and will have mercy on them.