Psalms 129
A psalm of survival against long affliction and hatred.
Psalm 129 opens with Israel recalling a history of suffering, "many a time have they afflicted me from my youth," yet insisting the enemy "have not prevailed." It offers a harder-edged companion to the blessing pronounced in Psalms 128, this time framed as survival rather than prosperity.
A song of degrees. They haue often times afflicted me from my youth (may Israel nowe say)
They haue often times afflicted me from my youth: but they could not preuaile against me.
The plowers plowed vpon my backe, and made long furrowes.
But the righteous Lord hath cut the cordes of the wicked.
They that hate Zion, shalbe all ashamed and turned backward.
They shalbe as the grasse on the house tops, which withereth afore it commeth forth.
Whereof the mower filleth not his hand, neither the glainer his lap:
Neither they, which go by, say, The blessing of the Lord be vpon you, or, We blesse you in the Name of the Lord.