Psalms 129

1 “A psalm of the steps, or the goings up.” Much have they afflicted me from my youth, May Israel now say;

“A song of the degrees.” Many a time have they assailed me from my youth, so should Israel say;

2 Much have they afflicted me from my youth, Yet have they not prevailed against me.

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

3 The ploughers ploughed up my back; They made long their furrows;

Upon my back have ploughmen ploughed; they have drawn long their furrows:

4 But the LORD was righteous; He cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

[Yet] the Lord is righteous; he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

5 Let all be driven back with shame Who hate Zion!

May all be put to shame and turned backward that hate Zion;

6 Let them be as grass upon the house-tops, Which withereth before one pulleth it up;

May they become like the grass of the roofs, which withereth before it is pulled up;

7 With which the reaper filleth not his hand, Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom!

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor his arm he that bindeth sheaves.

8 And they who pass by do not say, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!”

Nor do they who pass by say, The blessing of the Lord be with you: we bless you in the name of the Lord.