1 M any times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say,

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth—oh let Israel say—

2 m any times they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 T he plowers plowed on my back. They made their furrows long.

The ploughers ploughed upon my back; they made long their furrows.

4 Y ahweh is righteous. He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.

Jehovah is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

5 L et them be disappointed and turned backward, all those who hate Zion.

Let them be ashamed and turned backward, all that hate Zion;

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

Let them be as the grass upon the house-tops, which withereth before it is plucked up,

7 w ith which the reaper doesn’t fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his bosom.

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom;

8 N either do those who go by say, “The blessing of Yahweh be on you. We bless you in Yahweh’s name.”

Neither do the passers-by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you; we bless you in the name of Jehovah!