Psalms 129
129
Psalm 129#sn Psalm 129. Israel affirms God’s justice and asks him to destroy the enemies of Zion.
A song of ascents.#sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.
1 “Since my youth they have often attacked me,”
let Israel say.
2 “Since my youth they have often attacked me,
but they have not defeated me.
3 The plowers plowed my back;
they made their furrows long.
4 The Lord is just;
he cut the ropes of the wicked.”#tn The background of the metaphor is not entirely clear. Perhaps the “ropes” are those used to harness the ox for plowing (see Job 39:10). Verse 3 pictures the wicked plowing God’s people as if they were a field. But when God “cut the ropes” of their ox, as it were, they could no longer plow. The point of the metaphor seems to be that God took away the enemies’ ability to oppress his people. See L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 187.
5 May all who hate Zion
be humiliated and turned back!
6 May they be like the grass on the rooftops
which withers before one can even pull it up,#tn The Hebrew verb שָׁלַף (shalaf) normally means “to draw [a sword]” or “to pull.” BDB 1025 s.v. suggests the meaning “to shoot up” here, but it is more likely that the verb here means “to pluck; to pull up,” a nuance attested for this word in later Hebrew and Aramaic (see Jastrow 1587 s.v. שָׁלַף).
7 which cannot fill the reaper’s hand,
or the lap of the one who gathers the grain!
8 Those who pass by will not say,#tn The perfect verbal form is used for rhetorical effect; it describes an anticipated development as if it were already reality.
“May you experience the Lord’s blessing!
We pronounce a blessing on you in the name of the Lord.”
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Psalms 129
129
Psalm 129
A song for going up to worship.
1“From the time I was young, people have attacked me …”
(Israel should repeat this.)
2“From the time I was young, people have attacked me,
but they have never overpowered me.
3They have plowed my back ⌞like farmers plow fields⌟.
They made long slashes ⌞like furrows⌟.”
4The Lord is righteous.
He has cut me loose
from the ropes that wicked people tied around me.
5Put to shame all those who hate Zion.
Force them to retreat.
6Make them be like grass on a roof,
like grass that dries up before it produces a stalk.
7It will never fill the barns of those who harvest
or the arms of those who gather bundles.
8Those who pass by will never say ⌞to them⌟,
“May you be blessed by the Lord”
or “We bless you in the name of the Lord.”
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