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 the Ascents. Often they distressed me from my youth, Pray, let Israel say:
Often they distressed me from my youth, Yet they have not prevailed over me.
Over my back have ploughers ploughed, They have made long their furrows.
Jehovah `is' righteous, He hath cut asunder cords of the wicked.
Confounded and turn backward do all hating Zion.
They are as grass of the roofs, That before it was drawn out withereth,
That hath not filled the hand of a reaper, And the bosom of a binder of sheaves.
And the passers by have not said, `The blessing of Jehovah `is' on you, We blessed you in the Name of Jehovah!'