Psalms 129

1 A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth — oh let Israel say —

A Song of Ascents. Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say:

2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me.

many times they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The ploughers ploughed upon my back; they made long their furrows.

The ploughers ploughed on my back. They made their furrows long.

4 Jehovah is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

The LORD is righteous. He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.

5 Let them be ashamed and turned backward, all that hate Zion;

Let them be disappointed and turned backward, all those who hate Zion.

6 Let them be as the grass upon the house-tops, which withereth before it is plucked up,

Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,

7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom;

with which the reaper doesn’t fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his bosom.

8 Neither do the passers-by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you; we bless you in the name of Jehovah!

Neither do those who go by say, “The blessing of the LORD be on you. We bless you in the LORD’s name.”