Psalms 129

1 The song of greces. Israel seie now; Ofte thei fouyten ayens me fro my yongth.

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

2 Ofte thei fouyten ayens me fro my yongthe; and sotheli thei miyten not to me.

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

3 Synneris forgeden on my bak; thei maden long her wickidnesse.

The plowers plowed on my back. They made their furrows long.

4 The `iust Lord schal beete the nollis of synneris;

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

5 alle that haten Sion be schent, and turned abak.

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

6 Be thei maad as the hey of hous coppis; that driede vp, bifore that it be drawun vp.

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

7 Of which hei he that schal repe, schal not fille his hond; and he that schal gadere hondfullis, schal not fille his bosum.

with which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his bosom.

8 And thei that passiden forth seiden not, The blessing of the Lord be on you; we blessiden you in the name of the Lord.

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