< Psalms 129 >
1 A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up.” Much have they afflicted me from my youth, May Israel now say;
2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
Much have they afflicted me from my youth, Yet have they not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.
The ploughers ploughed up my back; They made long their furrows;
4 The LORD [is] righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
But the LORD was righteous; He cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.
Let all be driven back with shame Who hate Zion!
6 Let them be as the grass [upon] the house-tops, which withereth before it groweth up:
Let them be as grass upon the house-tops, Which withereth before one pulleth it up;
7 With which the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves, his bosom.
With which the reaper filleth not his hand, Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom!
8 Neither do they who go by, say, The blessing of the LORD [be] upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.
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!”