Psalms 129

1 A song of ascents. Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—let Israel now declare—

1 Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say:

2 many a time they have persecuted me from my youth, but they have not prevailed against me.

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

3 The plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long.

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

4 The LORD is righteous; He has cut me from the cords of the wicked.

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

5 May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.

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

6 May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,

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

7 unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.

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

8 May none who pass by say to them, “The blessing of the LORD be on you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.”

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