Psalmorum 129

1 Canticum graduum. Sæpe expugnaverunt me a iuventute mea, dicat nunc Israel.

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

2 Sæpe expugnaverunt me a iuventute mea: etenim non potuerunt mihi.

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

3 Supra dorsum meum fabricaverunt peccatores: prolongaverunt iniquitatem suam.

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

4 Dominus iustus concidit cervices peccatorum:

Yahweh is righteous. He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.

5 confundantur et convertantur retrorsum omnes, qui oderunt Sion.

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

6 Fiant sicut fœnum tectorum: quod priusquam evellatur, exaruit:

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

7 De quo non implevit manum suam qui metit, et sinum suum qui manipulos colligit.

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

8 Et non dixerunt qui præteribant: Benedictio Domini super vos: benediximus vobis in nomine Domini.

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