Psalm 129 | English Standard Version New International Reader’s Version

Psalm 129 | English Standard Version

They Have Afflicted Me from My Youth

1 A Song of Ascents. “Greatly* have they afflicted me from my youth”— let Israel now say— 2 “Greatly 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 has cut the cords of the wicked. 5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward! 6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, 7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms, 8 nor do those who pass by say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you! We bless you in the name of the Lord!”

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New International Reader’s Version

A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.

1 Here is what Israel should say. ‘My enemies have treated me badly ever since I was a young nation. 2 My enemies have treated me badly ever since I was a young nation. But they haven’t won the battle. 3 They have made deep wounds in my back. It looks like a field a farmer has ploughed. 4 The LORD does what is right. Sinners had tied me up with ropes. But the LORD has set me free.’ 5 May all those who hate Zion be driven back in shame. 6 May they be like grass that grows on the roof of a house. It dries up before it can grow. 7 There isn’t enough of it to fill a person’s hand. There isn’t enough to tie up and carry away. 8 May no one who passes by say to those who hate Zion, ‘May the blessing of the LORD be on you. We bless you in the name of the LORD.’