Old Testament
Psalms 129
Overview
A psalm of communal endurance and confidence. Israel testifies that from her youth enemies have greatly afflicted her—plowing long furrows across her back—yet they have not prevailed, for the righteous LORD has cut the cords of the wicked. The psalm then prays that all who hate Zion be turned back, withering like rootless grass on the housetops that fills no reaper's hand.
1A Song of Ascents. Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say:
2many times they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.
3The plowers plowed on my back. They made their furrows long.
4Yahweh is righteous. He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.
5Let them be disappointed and turned backward, all those who hate Zion.
6Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,
7with which the reaper doesn’t fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his bosom.
8Neither do those who go by say, “The blessing of Yahweh be on you. We bless you in Yahweh’s name.”