1 A Song of the Ascents. Often they distressed me from my youth, Pray, let Israel say:
2 Often they distressed me from my youth, Yet they have not prevailed over me.
3 Over my back have ploughers ploughed, They have made long their furrows.
4 Jehovah `is' righteous, He hath cut asunder cords of the wicked.
5 Confounded and turn backward do all hating Zion.
6 They are as grass of the roofs, That before it was drawn out withereth,
7 That hath not filled the hand of a reaper, And the bosom of a binder of sheaves.
8 And the passers by have not said, `The blessing of Jehovah `is' on you, We blessed 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.