The Book of Psalms

A song of ascents. “Often since my youth they have attacked me,” let Israel say.

“Often since my youth they have attacked me, yet they have not defeated me.

The plowers plowed on my back; they made their furrows long.

Yahweh is righteous; he has cut the ropes of the wicked.”

May they all be put to shame and turned back, those who hate Zion.

May they be like the grass on the housetops that withers before it grows up,

that cannot fill the reaper’s hand or the chest of the one who binds sheaves.

May those who pass by not say, “May the blessing of Yahweh be on you; we bless you in the name of Yahweh.”

Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say:

many times they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.

The plowers plowed on my back. They made their furrows long.

The LORD is righteous. He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.

Let them be disappointed and turned backward, all those who hate Zion.

Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,

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

Neither do those who go by say, “The blessing of the LORD be on you. We bless you in the LORD’s name.”