Saam 129

1 Kasang laa. Ka nawkta nathuem hoi boeh ni nihcae mah kai ang pacaekthlaek o, Israel mah vaihi,

[I say that] my enemies have (afflicted/caused trouble for) me ever since I was young. [Now I ask you, my fellow] Israelis, to repeat those same words:

2 ka nawkta nathuem hoi boeh ni nihcae mah kai ang pacaekthlaek o boeh; toe nihcae mah na pazawk o vai ai, tiah thuih.

“Our enemies have afflicted us since our nation began, but they have not defeated us!

3 Laikok atok kaminawk mah long atok naah kaom ahmaa baktiah ka kaengah ahmaa kathuk to oh.

[Our enemies struck us with whips] that cut into our backs [MET] like a [farmer uses a] plow to cut deep furrows into the ground.”

4 Toe Angraeng loe toeng; poeksae kaminawk ih qui to anih mah aah pae pat.

[But] Yahweh is righteous, and he has freed [me] from being a slave [MTY] of wicked [people].

5 Zion hnuma kaminawk boih azathaih hoiah amlaem o let nasoe.

I wish/hope that all those who hate Jerusalem/Israel will be ashamed because of being defeated.

6 Qoeng tahang ai ah kazaem, imphu nui ih phroh baktiah om o nasoe;

I hope/wish that they will be [of no value], like grass that grows on the roofs of houses that dries up and does not grow tall;

7 to phroh aatkung loe ban tamsum maeto mataeng doeh hak ai, cang taoeng kami aput han kakhawt ah doeh hak thai ai.

[as a result] no one [cuts it and] puts it in bundles and carries it away.

8 To ahmuen ah caeh kaminawk loe, Angraeng tahamhoihaih na nuiah om nasoe; Angraeng ih ahmin hoiah tahamhoihaih kang paek, tiah thui o mak ai.

People who pass by [and see men harvesting grain usually greet them by saying to them], “We wish/hope that Yahweh will bless you!” But this will not happen [to those who hate Israel]. We, acting as Yahweh’s representatives, bless you [Israelis.]