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 ascents. ‘Sore have they vexed me from youth’ thus let Israel say

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

‘Sore have they vexed me from youth, but they have not prevailed against me.

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

‘The ploughers ploughed on my back, they made their furrows long.

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

But the Lord, who is righteous, has cut the cords of the wicked.’

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

Let all who are haters of Zion be put to shame and defeated.

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

May they be as the grass on the house-top, which withers before it shoots up;

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

which fills not the arms of the reaper, nor the lap of the binder of 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!”

whereof no one says as they pass, ‘The blessing of God be upon you.’ In the name of the Lord we bless you.