< Psalms 129 >
1 “A song of the degrees.” Many a time have they assailed me from my youth, so should Israel say;
A Song of Degrees. Many a time have they warred against me from my youth, let Israel now say:
2 Many a time have they assailed me from my youth: yet have they not prevailed against me.
Many a time have they warred against me from my youth: and yet they prevailed not against me.
3 Upon my back have ploughmen ploughed; they have drawn long their furrows:
The sinners wrought upon my back: they prolonged their iniquity.
4 [Yet] the Lord is righteous; he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
The righteous Lord has cut asunder the necks of sinners.
5 May all be put to shame and turned backward that hate Zion;
Let all that hate Sion be put to shame and turned back.
6 May they become like the grass of the roofs, which withereth before it is pulled up;
Let them be as the grass of the housetops, which withers before it is plucked up.
7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor his arm he that bindeth sheaves.
Wherewith the reaper fills not his hand, nor he that makes up the sheaves, his bosom.
8 Nor do they who pass by say, The blessing of the Lord be with 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.