Psalms 129

1 A song of ascents. Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth— let Israel now declare—

A Song of the going up. Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young (let Israel now say);

2 many a time they have persecuted me from my youth, but they have not prevailed against me.

Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young, but my troubles have not overcome me.

3 The plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long.

The ploughmen were ploughing on my back; long were the wounds they made.

4 The LORD is righteous; He has cut me from the cords of the wicked.

The Lord is true: the cords of the evil-doers are broken in two.

5 May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.

Let all the haters of Zion be shamed and turned back.

6 May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,

Let them be like the grass on the house-tops, which is dry before it comes to full growth.

7 unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.

He who gets in the grain has no use for it; and they do not make bands of it for the grain-stems.

8 May none who pass by say to them, “The blessing of the LORD be on you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.”

And those who go by do not say, The blessing of the Lord be on you; we give you blessing in the name of the Lord.