Sign in for free

Psalm 129

English Standard Version

from Crossway
1 “Greatly[1] have they afflicted me from my youth”— let Israel now say— (Ex 1:14; Jud 3:8; Jud 3:14; Jud 4:3; Jud 6:2; Jud 10:8; Ps 124:1; Isa 47:12; Jer 2:2; Jer 22:21; Ho 2:15) 2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me. (Ps 1:1; 2Co 4:8) 3 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.” (Isa 50:6; Isa 51:23; Mic 3:12) 4 The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked. (Ps 2:3) 5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward! (Ps 35:4) 6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, (2Ki 19:26; Job 8:12; Ps 37:2; Isa 37:27) 7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms, 8 nor do those who pass by say, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!” (Ru 2:4; Ps 118:26) 

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV® ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Psalm 129

King James Version

1 A Song of degrees. 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. 4 The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. 5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. 6 Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up: 7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom. 8 Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD. 

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain.
Please note the following exceptions for use and publication in the United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

Psalm 129

New International Reader’s Version

from Biblica
1 Here is what Israel should say. ‘My enemies have treated me badly ever since I was a young nation. 2 My enemies have treated me badly 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 ploughed. 4 The LORD does what is right. Sinners had tied me up with ropes. But the LORD has set me free.’ 5 May all those who hate Zion be driven back in shame. 6 May they be like grass that grows on the roof of a house. It dries up before it can grow. 7 There isn’t enough of it to fill a person’s hand. There isn’t enough to tie up and carry away. 8 May no one who passes by say to those who hate Zion, ‘May the blessing of the LORD be on you. We bless you in the name of the LORD.’ 

Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® (Anglicised)
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.