Psalms 129

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.]