Psalms 129

1 A Song of Ascents. 'Much have they afflicted me from my youth up', let Israel now say;

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

2 'Much have they afflicted me from my youth up; but they have not prevailed against me.

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

3 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.

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

4 The LORD is righteous; He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.'

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

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

May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.

6 Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it springeth up;

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

7 Wherewith the reaper filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.

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

8 Neither do they that go by say: 'The blessing of the LORD be upon you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.'

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.”