Psalms 129

1 A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth — oh let Israel say —

“A song of the degrees.” Many a time have they assailed me from my youth, so should Israel say;

2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me.

Many a time have they assailed me from my youth: yet have they not prevailed against me.

3 The ploughers ploughed upon my back; they made long their furrows.

Upon my back have ploughmen ploughed; they have drawn long their furrows:

4 Jehovah is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

[Yet] the Lord is righteous; he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

5 Let them be ashamed and turned backward, all that hate Zion;

May all be put to shame and turned backward that hate Zion;

6 Let them be as the grass upon the house-tops, which withereth before it is plucked up,

May they become like the grass of the roofs, which withereth before it is pulled up;

7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom;

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor his arm he that bindeth sheaves.

8 Neither do the passers-by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you; we bless you in the name of Jehovah!

Nor do they who pass by say, The blessing of the Lord be with you: we bless you in the name of the Lord.