Psalm 129

1 A song for going up to worship. “From the time I was young, people have attacked me...”(Israel should repeat this.)2 “From the time I was young, people have attacked me,but they have never overpowered me.3 They have plowed my back like farmers plow fields.They made long slashes like furrows.”4 The Lord is righteous.He has cut me loosefrom the ropes that wicked people tied around me.5 Put to shame all those who hate Zion.Force them to retreat.6 Make them be like grass on a roof,like grass that dries up before it produces a stalk.7 It will never fill the barns of those who harvestor the arms of those who gather bundles.8 Those who pass by will never say to them,“May you be blessed by the Lord”or “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.”