Psalms, 129

1. [Song of Ascents] Often as men have attacked me since I was young -- let Israel repeat it-

1. A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:

2. often as men have attacked me since I was young, they have never overcome me.

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

3. On my back ploughmen have set to work, making long furrows,

3. The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.

4. but Yahweh the upright has shattered the yoke of the wicked.

4. The LORD [is] righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

5. Let all who hate Zion be thrown back in confusion,

5. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

6. let them be like grass on a roof, dried up before it is cut,

6. Let them be as the grass [upon] the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:

7. never to fill the reaper's arm nor the binder's lap.

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

8. And no passer-by will say, 'The blessing of Yahweh be on you! 'We bless you in the name of Yahweh.'

8. Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD [be] upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.