Psalmorum 129

1 Canticum graduum. Sæpe expugnaverunt me a juventute mea, dicat nunc Israël;

[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 sæpe expugnaverunt me a juventute mea: etenim non potuerunt mihi.

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

3 Supra dorsum meum fabricaverunt peccatores; prolongaverunt iniquitatem suam.

[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 Dominus justus concidit cervices peccatorum.

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

5 Confundantur, et convertantur retrorsum omnes qui oderunt Sion.

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

6 Fiant sicut fœnum tectorum, quod priusquam evellatur exaruit:

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 de quo non implevit manum suam qui metit, et sinum suum qui manipulos colligit.

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

8 Et non dixerunt qui præteribant: Benedictio Domini super vos. Benediximus vobis in nomine Domini.

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.]