Psalm 129–131

A Prayer Against the Enemies

A song for going up to worship.

129They have treated me badly all my life.

(Let Israel repeat this.)

²They have treated me badly all my life,

but they have not defeated me.

³Like farmers plowing, they plowed over my back,

making long wounds.

⁴But the Lord does what is right;

he has set me free from those wicked people.

⁵Let those who hate Jerusalem

be turned back in shame.

⁶Let them be like the grass on the roof

that dries up before it has grown.

⁷There is not enough of it to fill a hand

or to make into a bundle to fill one’s arms.

⁸Let those who pass by them not say,

“May the Lord bless you.

We bless you by the power of the Lord.”

A Prayer for Mercy

A song for going up to worship.

130Lord, I am in great trouble,

so I call out to you.

²Lord, hear my voice;

listen to my prayer for help.

³Lord, if you punished people for all their sins,

no one would be left, Lord.

⁴But you forgive us,

so you are respected.

⁵I wait for the Lord to help me,

and I trust his word.

⁶I wait for the Lord to help me

more than night watchmen wait for the dawn,

more than night watchmen wait for the dawn.

⁷People of Israel, put your hope in the Lord

because he is loving

and able to save.

⁸He will save Israel

from all their sins.

Childlike Trust in the Lord

A song for going up to worship. Of David.

131Lord, my heart is not proud;

I don’t look down on others.

I don’t do great things,

and I can’t do miracles.

²But I am calm and quiet,

like a baby with its mother.

I am at peace, like a baby with its mother.

³People of Israel, put your hope in the Lord

now and forever.