Psalms 129

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

Often have they fought against me from my youth, let Israel now say.

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

Often have they fought against me from my youth: but they could not prevail over me.

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

The wicked have wrought upon my back: they have lengthened their iniquity.

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

The Lord who is just will cut the necks of sinners:

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

Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion.

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

Let them be as grass on the tops of houses: which withered before it be plucked up:

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

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand: nor he that gathereth sheaves his bosom.

8 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.

And they that have passed by have not said: The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.