Psalm 129–131

Psalm 129

PROTECTION OF THE OPPRESSED

A song of ascents.

¹Since my youth they have often attacked me—

let Israel say—

²since my youth they have often attacked me,

but they have not prevailed against me.^ac

³Plowmen plowed over my back;

they made their furrows long.^ad

⁴The Lord is righteous;

he has cut the ropes of the wicked.^a

⁵Let all who hate Zion

be driven back in disgrace.^b

⁶Let them be like grass on the rooftops,

which withers before it grows up^Ac

⁷and can’t even fill the hands of the reaper

or the arms of the one who binds sheaves.^d

⁸Then none who pass by will say,

“May the Lord’s blessing be on you.

We bless you in the name of the Lord.”^e

Psalm 130

AWAITING REDEMPTION

A song of ascents.

¹Out of the depths I call to you, Lord!^f

²Lord, listen to my voice;

let your ears be attentive

to my cry for help.^g

³Lord, if you kept an account of iniquities,

Lord, who could stand?^h

⁴But with you there is forgiveness,

so that you may be revered.ⁱ

⁵I wait for the Lord; I wait

and put my hope in his word.^j

⁶I wait for the Lord

more than watchmen for the morning—

more than watchmen for the morning.^k

⁷Israel, put your hope in the Lord.^l

For there is faithful love with the Lord,

and with him is redemption in abundance.^m

⁸And he will redeem Israel

from all its iniquities.ⁿ

Psalm 131

A CHILDLIKE SPIRIT

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹Lord, my heart is not proud;

my eyes are not haughty.^o

I do not get involved with things

too great or too wondrous for me.^p

²Instead, I have calmed and quieted my soul

like a weaned child with its mother;

my soul is like a weaned child.^q

³Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

both now and forever.^r