Add parallel Print Page Options

A Song of Ascents

God Defeats Israel’s Enemies

129 “Since my youth they have often persecuted me,”
    let Israel repeat it,
“Since my youth they have often persecuted me,
    yet they haven’t defeated me.
Wicked people[a] plowed over my back,
    creating long-lasting wounds.”[b]

The Lord is righteous—
    he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.

Let all who hate Zion
    be turned away and be ashamed.
May they become like a tuft of grass on a roof top,
    that withers before it takes root—
not enough to fill one’s hand
    or to bundle in one’s arms.
And may those who pass by never tell them,
    “May the Lord’s blessing be upon you.
        We bless you in the name of the Lord.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 129:3 So LXX DSS 11QPsa; MT reads The ploughman
  2. Psalm 129:3 Or long furrows; LXX reads back; they prolonged their lawlessness

Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

“They have greatly oppressed(A) me from my youth,”(B)
    let Israel say;(C)
“they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
    but they have not gained the victory(D) over me.
Plowmen have plowed my back
    and made their furrows long.
But the Lord is righteous;(E)
    he has cut me free(F) from the cords of the wicked.”(G)

May all who hate Zion(H)
    be turned back in shame.(I)
May they be like grass on the roof,(J)
    which withers(K) before it can grow;
a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,(L)
    nor one who gathers fill his arms.
May those who pass by not say to them,
    “The blessing of the Lord be on you;
    we bless you(M) in the name of the Lord.”