1 M any a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:

A Song of the Ascents. Often they distressed me from my youth, Pray, let Israel say:

2 M any a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.

Often they distressed me from my youth, Yet they have not prevailed over me.

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

Over my back have ploughers ploughed, They have made long their furrows.

4 T he Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

Jehovah righteous, He hath cut asunder cords of the wicked.

5 L et them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

Confounded and turn backward do all hating Zion.

6 L et them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:

They are as grass of the roofs, That before it was drawn out withereth,

7 W herewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.

That hath not filled the hand of a reaper, And the bosom of a binder of sheaves.

8 N either do they which go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we bless you in the name of the Lord.

And the passers by have not said, `The blessing of Jehovah on you, We blessed you in the Name of Jehovah!'