1A Song of Ascents. 2"Sorely have they afflicted me from my youth," let Israel now say-- 3"Sorely have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me. 4The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows." 5The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked. 6May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward! 7Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, 8with which the reaper does not fill his hand or the binder of sheaves his bosom, [ (Psalms 129:9) while those who pass by do not say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!" ]