1 M any a time and much have they afflicted me from my youth up—let Israel now say—

“ Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up,” Let Israel now say,

2 M any a time and much have they afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.

“ Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up; Yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 T he plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.

“The plowers plowed upon my back; They lengthened their furrows.”

4 T he Lord is righteous; He has cut asunder the thick cords by which the wicked.

The Lord is righteous; He has cut in two the cords of the wicked.

5 L et them all be put to shame and turned backward who hate Zion.

May all who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned backward;

6 L et them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withers before it grows up,

Let them be like grass upon the housetops, Which withers before it grows up;

7 W ith which the mower fills not his hand, nor the binder of sheaves his bosom—

With which the reaper does not fill his hand, Or the binder of sheaves his bosom;

8 W hile those who go by do not say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you! We bless you in the name of the Lord!

Nor do those who pass by say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you; We bless you in the name of the Lord.”