1 {A Song of degrees.} Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth -- oh let Israel say --
2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The ploughers ploughed upon my back; they made long their furrows.
4 Jehovah is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
5 Let them be ashamed and turned backward, all that hate Zion;
6 Let them be as the grass upon the house-tops, which withereth before it is plucked up,
7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom;
8 Neither do the passers-by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you; we bless you in the name of Jehovah!
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Commentary on Psalms 129 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 129
Ps 129:1-8. The people of God, often delivered from enemies, are confident of His favor, by their overthrow in the future.
1, 2. may Israel now say—or, "oh! let Israel say" (Ps 124:1). Israel's youth was the sojourn in Egypt (Jer 2:2; Ho 2:15).
2. prevailed—literally, "been able," that is, to accomplish their purpose against me (Ps 13:4).
3, 4. The ploughing is a figure of scourging, which most severe physical infliction aptly represents all kinds.
4. the cords—that is, which fasten the plough to the ox; and cutting denotes God's arresting the persecution;
5, 6. The ill-rooted roof grass, which withers before it grows up and procures for those gathering it no harvest blessing (Ru 2:4), sets forth the utter uselessness and the rejection of the wicked.