Psalms 129

1 A Song of the Ascents. Often they distressed me from my youth, Pray, let Israel say:

“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up.” Much have they afflicted me from my youth, May Israel now say;

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

Much have they afflicted me from my youth, Yet have they not prevailed against me.

3 Over my back have ploughers ploughed, They have made long their furrows.

The ploughers ploughed up my back; They made long their furrows;

4 Jehovah [is] righteous, He hath cut asunder cords of the wicked.

But the LORD was righteous; He cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

5 Confounded and turn backward do all hating Zion.

Let all be driven back with shame Who hate Zion!

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

Let them be as grass upon the house-tops, Which withereth before one pulleth it up;

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

With which the reaper filleth not his hand, Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom!

8 And the passers by have not said, 'The blessing of Jehovah [is] on you, We blessed you in the Name of Jehovah!'

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!”