Psalms 129

1 A Canticle in steps. They have often fought against me from my youth, let Israel now say:

A Song of Degrees. Many a time have they warred against me from my youth, let Israel now say:

2 they have often fought against me from my youth, yet they could not prevail over me.

Many a time have they warred against me from my youth: and yet they prevailed not against me.

3 The sinners have made fabrications behind my back. They have prolonged their iniquity.

The sinners wrought upon my back: they prolonged their iniquity.

4 The just Lord will cut the necks of sinners.

The righteous Lord has cut asunder the necks of sinners.

5 Let all those who hate Zion be confounded and turned backwards.

Let all that hate Sion be put to shame and turned back.

6 Let them be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can be pulled up:

Let them be as the grass of the housetops, which withers before it is plucked up.

7 with it, he who reaps does not fill his hand and he who gathers sheaves does not fill his bosom.

Wherewith the reaper fills not his hand, nor he that makes up the sheaves, his bosom.

8 And those who were passing by have not said to them: “The blessing of the Lord be upon you. We have blessed you in the name of the Lord.”

Neither do they that go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.