< Psalms 129 >
1 A Song of Ascents. Many a time, have they harassed me from my youth, well may Israel say:
A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
2 Many a time, have they harassed me from youth, yet have they not prevailed against me.
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 Upon my back, have ploughmen ploughed, They have lengthened their furrow!
The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.
4 Yahweh, is righteous, He hath cut asunder the cords of the lawless.
The LORD [is] righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
5 Let all who hate Zion, be ashamed and shrink back:
Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.
6 Let them become like the grass of housetops, which, before it is pulled up, hath withered;
Let them be as the grass [upon] the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
7 Wherewith no reaper, hath filled his hand, nor binder, his bosom:
Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
8 Neither have the passers-by ever said, The blessing of Yahweh, be unto you, —We have blessed you in the Name of Yahweh.
Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD [be] upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.