Psalms 129

1 A song for pilgrims going up to Jerusalem. Many enemies have attacked from the time I was young. Let everyone in Israel say:

A Song of Degrees. Many a time have they warred against me from my youth, let Israel now say:

2 Many enemies have attacked from the time I was young, but they never defeated me.

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

3 They beat me on my back, leaving long furrows as if it had been ploughed by a farmer.

The sinners wrought upon my back: they prolonged their iniquity.

4 But the Lord does what is right: he has cut me free from the ropes of the wicked.

The righteous Lord has cut asunder the necks of sinners.

5 May everyone who hates Zion be driven back in humiliating defeat.

Let all that hate Sion be put to shame and turned back.

6 May they be like grass that grows on a roof that withers before it can be harvested,

Let them be as the grass of the house-tops, which withers before it is plucked up.

7 There's not enough even for a reaper to hold, not enough even for the binder to bind.

Wherewith the reaper fills not his hand, nor he that makes up the sheaves, his bosom.

8 May passers-by not say to them, “The blessing of the Lord be on you; we bless you in the name of the Lord.”

Neither do they that go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.