Psalm 129

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:

‘They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,’
    let Israel say;

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

‘they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
    but they have not gained the victory over me.

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

Ploughmen have ploughed my back
    and made their furrows long.

The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

But the Lord is righteous;
    he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.’

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

May all who hate Zion
    be turned back in shame.

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

May they be like grass on the roof,
    which withers before it can grow;

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

a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,
    nor one who gathers fill his arms.

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

May those who pass by not say to them,
    ‘The blessing of the Lord be on you;
    we bless you in the name of the Lord.’