Psalm 129:1–3

1 “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,”

let Israel say;

2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,

but they have not gained the victory over me.

3 Plowmen have plowed my back

and made their furrows long.

1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth,

May Israel now say:

2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth:

Yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The plowers plowed upon my back:

They made long their furrows.

1 From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me.

Let all Israel repeat this:

2 From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me,

but they have never defeated me.

3 My back is covered with cuts,

as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.

1 “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth,”

Let Israel now say—

2 “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth;

Yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The plowers plowed on my back;

They made their furrows long.”

1 They have treated me badly all my life.

(Let Israel repeat this.)

2 They have treated me badly all my life,

but they have not defeated me.

3 Like farmers plowing, they plowed over my back,

making long wounds.

1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up,

Let Israel now say,

2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up:

Yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The plowers plowed upon my back;

They made long their furrows.

1 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.

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. 

3 They have plowed my back ⸤like farmers plow fields⸥. 

They made long slashes ⸤like furrows⸥.” 

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 prevailed against me.

3 Plowmen plowed over my back;

they made their furrows long.

1 Often have they attacked me from my youth

—let Israel now say—

2 often have they attacked me from my youth,

yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The plowers plowed on my back;

they made their furrows long.

1 “Too often they have attacked me from my youth.”

Let Israel say,

2 “Too often they have attacked me from my youth,

yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 On my back plowmen have plowed.

They have made their furrows long.”

1 Here is what Israel should say.

Many times my enemies have beaten me down ever since I was a young nation.

2 Many times my enemies have beaten me down ever since I was a young nation,

but they haven’t won the battle.

3 They have made deep wounds in my back.

It looks like a field a farmer has plowed.

1 “Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up,”

Let Israel now say,

2 “Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up;

Yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 “The plowers plowed upon my back;

They lengthened their furrows.”