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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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