Psalm 129

1  MANY A time and much have they afflicted me from my youth up--let Israel now say--2  Many a time and much have they afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.3  The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.4  The Lord is [uncompromisingly] righteous; He has cut asunder the thick cords by which the wicked [enslaved us].5  Let them all be put to shame and turned backward who hate Zion.6  Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withers before it grows up,7  With which the mower fills not his hand, nor the binder of sheaves his bosom--8  While those who go by do not say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you! We bless you in the name of the Lord!

Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

1 “Since my youth they have often attacked me,”
let Israel say.

2 “Since my youth they have often attacked me,
but they have not defeated me.

3 The plowers plowed my back;
they made their furrows long.

4 The Lord is just;
he cut the ropes of the wicked.”

5 May all who hate Zion
be humiliated and turned back!

6 May they be like the grass on the rooftops
which withers before one can even pull it up,

7 which cannot fill the reaper’s hand,
or the lap of the one who gathers the grain!

8 Those who pass by will not say,
“May you experience the Lord’s blessing!
We pronounce a blessing on you in the name of the Lord.”