1 From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me. Let all Israel repeat this: 2 From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never defeated me. 3 My back is covered with cuts, as if a farmer had plowed long furrows. 4 But the LORD is good; he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly. 5 May all who hate Jerusalem be turned back in shameful defeat. 6 May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop, turning yellow when only half grown, 7 ignored by the harvester, despised by the binder. 8 And may those who pass by refuse to give them this blessing: "The LORD bless you; we bless you in the LORD's name." A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1 "They've kicked me around ever since I was young"--this is how Israel tells it-- 2 "They've kicked me around ever since I was young, but they never could keep me down. 3 Their plowmen plowed long furrows up and down my back; 4 Then GOD ripped the harnesses of the evil plowmen to shreds." 5 Oh, let all those who hate Zion grovel in humiliation; 6 Let them be like grass in shallow ground that withers before the harvest, 7 Before the farmhands can gather it in, the harvesters get in the crop, 8 Before the neighbors have a chance to call out, "Congratulations on your wonderful crop! We bless you in GOD's name!"
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 "Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth," Let Israel now say-- 2 "Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; Yet they have not prevailed against me. 3 The plowers plowed on my back; They made their furrows long." 4 The LORD is righteous; He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked. 5 Let all those who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned back. 6 Let them be as the grass on the housetops, Which withers before it grows up, 7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand, Nor he who binds sheaves, his arms. 8 Neither let those who pass by them say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you; We bless you in the name of the LORD!"
1 "Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up," Let Israel now say, 2 "Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up; Yet they have not prevailed against me. 3 "The plowers plowed upon my back; They lengthened their furrows." 4 The LORD is righteous; He has cut in two the cords of the wicked. 5 May all who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned backward; 6 Let them be like grass upon the housetops, Which withers before it grows up; 7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand, Or the binder of sheaves his bosom; 8 Nor do those who pass by say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you; We bless you in the name of the LORD."
1 MANY A time and much have they afflicted me from my youth up--let Israel now say-- 2 Many a time and much have they afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me. 3 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows. 4 The Lord is [uncompromisingly] righteous; He has cut asunder the thick cords by which the wicked [enslaved us]. 5 Let them all be put to shame and turned backward who hate Zion. 6 Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withers before it grows up, 7 With which the mower fills not his hand, nor the binder of sheaves his bosom-- 8 While those who go by do not say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you! We bless you in the name of the Lord!
1 They have greatly oppressed me from my youth- let Israel say- 2 they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me. 3 Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long. 4 But the LORD is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked. 5 May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame. 6 May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow; 7 with it the reaper cannot fill his hands, nor the one who gathers fill his arms. 8 May those who pass by not say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you; we bless you in the name of the LORD."
1 "Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth"--let Israel now say-- 2 "Greatly 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 has cut the cords of the wicked. 5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward! 6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, 7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms, 8 nor do those who pass by say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!"