Psalms 129

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

[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:

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

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

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

[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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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;

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

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

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.

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.]