Psalms 129

1 The song of greces. Israel seie now; Ofte thei fouyten ayens me fro my yongth.

“A song of the degrees.” Many a time have they assailed me from my youth, so should Israel say;

2 Ofte thei fouyten ayens me fro my yongthe; and sotheli thei miyten not to me.

Many a time have they assailed me from my youth: yet have they not prevailed against me.

3 Synneris forgeden on my bak; thei maden long her wickidnesse.

Upon my back have ploughmen ploughed; they have drawn long their furrows:

4 The `iust Lord schal beete the nollis of synneris;

[Yet] the Lord is righteous; he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

5 alle that haten Sion be schent, and turned abak.

May all be put to shame and turned backward that hate Zion;

6 Be thei maad as the hey of hous coppis; that driede vp, bifore that it be drawun vp.

May they become like the grass of the roofs, which withereth before it is pulled up;

7 Of which hei he that schal repe, schal not fille his hond; and he that schal gadere hondfullis, schal not fille his bosum.

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor his arm he that bindeth sheaves.

8 And thei that passiden forth seiden not, The blessing of the Lord be on you; we blessiden you in the name of the Lord.

Nor do they who pass by say, The blessing of the Lord be with you: we bless you in the name of the Lord.