1 A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.3 The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.4 The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.6 Let them be as the grass upon the house-tops, which withereth before it groweth up:7 With which the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves, his bosom.8 Neither do they who go by, say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.