Psalms 129

1 A song of ascents. “Often since my youth they have attacked me,” let Israel say.

A SONG OF THE ASCENTS. Often they distressed me from my youth, Pray, let Israel say:

2 “Often since my youth they have attacked me, yet they have not defeated me.

Often they distressed me from my youth, Yet they have not prevailed over me.

3 The plowers plowed on my back; they made their furrows long.

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

4 Yahweh is righteous; he has cut the ropes of the wicked.”

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

5 May they all be put to shame and turned back, those who hate Zion.

All hating Zion [are] confounded and turn backward.

6 May they be like the grass on the housetops that withers before it grows up,

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

7 that cannot fill the reaper's hand or the chest of the one who binds bundles of grain together.

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

8 May those who pass by not say, “May the blessing of Yahweh be on you; we bless you in the name of Yahweh.”

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