Psalms 129

Victory Over the Enemies of Zion

A song of ascents.*The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm

1 "Too often*Or "Greatly" they have attacked me from my youth."

Let Israel say,

2 "Too often*Or "Greatly" they have attacked me from my youth,

yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 On my back plowmen have plowed.

They have made their furrows*According to the reading tradition (Qere) long."

4 Yahweh is righteous.

He has cut the ropes*That is, the yoke and tackle on a beast of burden of the wicked.

5 Let all be put to shame and repulsed

who hate Zion.

6 Let them be like grass on the housetops,

that withers before it grows up,

7 with which a reaper cannot fill his hand,

nor the binder of sheaves his arms,*Literally "bosom"

8 so that passersby do not say,

"The blessing of Yahweh be upon you.

We bless you in the name of Yahweh."