Psalmorum 129

1 canticum graduum saepe expugnaverunt me a iuventute mea dicat nunc Israhel

[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 saepe expugnaverunt me a iuventute mea etenim non potuerunt mihi

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

3 supra dorsum meum fabricabantur 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 iustus concidet 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 faenum 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 praeteribant 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.]