A song of ascents. 2
129:1 “Since my youth they have often attacked me,”
let Israel say.
129:2 “Since my youth they have often attacked me,
but they have not defeated me.
129:3 The plowers plowed my back;
they made their furrows long.
129:4 The Lord is just;
he cut the ropes of the wicked.” 3
129:5 May all who hate Zion
be humiliated and turned back!
129:6 May they be like the grass on the rooftops
which withers before one can even pull it up, 4
129:7 which cannot fill the reaper’s hand,
or the lap of the one who gathers the grain!
129:8 Those who pass by will not say, 5
“May you experience the Lord’s blessing!
We pronounce a blessing on you in the name of the Lord.”
A song of ascents. 7
130:1 From the deep water 8 I cry out to you, O Lord.
130:2 O Lord, listen to me! 9
Pay attention to 10 my plea for mercy!
130:3 If you, O Lord, were to keep track of 11 sins,
O Lord, who could stand before you? 12
130:4 But 13 you are willing to forgive, 14
so that you might 15 be honored. 16
130:5 I rely on 17 the Lord,
I rely on him with my whole being; 18
I wait for his assuring word. 19
130:6 I yearn for the Lord, 20
more than watchmen do for the morning,
yes, more than watchmen do for the morning. 21
130:7 O Israel, hope in the Lord,
for the Lord exhibits loyal love, 22
and is more than willing to deliver. 23
130:8 He will deliver 24 Israel
from all the consequences of their sins. 25
A song of ascents, 27 by David.
131:1 O Lord, my heart is not proud,
nor do I have a haughty look. 28
I do not have great aspirations,
or concern myself with things that are beyond me. 29
131:2 Indeed 30 I am composed and quiet, 31
like a young child carried by its mother; 32
I am content like the young child I carry. 33
131:3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
now and forevermore!