1{A Song of degrees.} Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth oh let Israel say —

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

3The ploughers ploughed upon my back; they made long their furrows.

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

5Let them be ashamed and turned backward, all that hate Zion;

6Let them be as the grass upon the house-tops, which withereth before it is plucked up,

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

8Neither do the passers-by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you; we bless you in the name of Jehovah!