They Have Afflicted Me from My Youth

A Song of Ascents.

1“Greatly129:1 Or Often; also verse 2 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.

3The ploughers ploughed upon my back;

they made long their furrows.”

4The LORD is righteous;

he has cut the cords of the wicked.

5May all who hate Zion

be put to shame and turned backwards!

6Let them be like the grass on the housetops,

which withers before it grows up,

7with which the reaper does not fill his hand

nor the binder of sheaves his arms,

8nor do those who pass by say,

“The blessing of the LORD be upon you!

We bless you in the name of the LORD!”