Psalms 129

1 A Song of Degrees. Many a time have they warred against me from my youth, let Israel now 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 warred against me from my youth: and yet they prevailed not against me.

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

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

[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 The righteous Lord has cut asunder the necks of sinners.

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

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

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

6 Let them be as the grass of the housetops, which withers 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 reaper fills not his hand, nor he that makes up the sheaves, his bosom.

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

8 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.

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.]