Psalms 129

1 [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:

A Song of the going up. Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young (let Israel now say);

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

Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young, but my troubles have not overcome me.

3 [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.”

The ploughmen were ploughing on my back; long were the wounds they made.

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

The Lord is true: the cords of the evil-doers are broken in two.

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

Let all the haters of Zion be shamed and turned back.

6 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;

Let them be like the grass on the house-tops, which is dry before it comes to full growth.

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

He who gets in the grain has no use for it; and they do not make bands of it for the grain-stems.

8 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.]

And those who go by do not say, The blessing of the Lord be on you; we give you blessing in the name of the Lord.