Psalms 129

1Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:

1 Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young (let Israel now say);

1A gradual canticle. Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord:

2Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.

2Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young, but my troubles have not overcome me.

2Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

3The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.

3The ploughmen were ploughing on my back; long were the wounds they made.

3If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it.

4The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

4The Lord is true: the cords of the evil-doers are broken in two.

4For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word:

5Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

5Let all the haters of Zion be shamed and turned back.

5my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

6Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:

6Let them be like the grass on the house-tops, which is dry before it comes to full growth.

6From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

7Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.

7He who gets in the grain has no use for it; and they do not make bands of it for the grain-stems.

7Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption.

8Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we bless you in the name of the Lord.

8And those who go by do not say, The blessing of the Lord be on you; we give you blessing in the name of the Lord.

8And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.