A Song of degrees.

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

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

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

4 The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

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

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

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

8 Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.

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!`