Psalms 129

1 A SONG OF THE ASCENTS. Often they distressed me from my youth, Pray, 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 Often they distressed me from my youth, Yet they have not prevailed over me.

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

3 Plowers have plowed over my back, They have made their furrows long.

[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 YHWH [is] righteous, He has cut apart cords of the wicked.

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

5 All hating Zion [are] confounded and turn backward.

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

6 They are as grass of the roofs, That withers before it was drawn out,

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 That has not filled the hand of a reaper, And the bosom of a binder of sheaves.

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

8 And the passers by have not said, “The blessing of YHWH [is] on you, We blessed you in the Name of YHWH!”

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.]