Psalms 129

King James Version (KJV) · English

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. 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.

Commentary — not Bible text

Psalms 129:1-2

PSALM 129

Psa 129:1-8. The people of God, often delivered from enemies, are confident of His favor, by their overthrow in the future.

1-2. may Israel now say--or, "oh! let Israel say" (Psa 124:1). Israel's youth was the sojourn in Egypt (Jr 2:2; Ho 2:15).

Psalms 129:3-4

3-4. The ploughing is a figure of scourging, which most severe physical infliction aptly represents all kinds.

Psalms 129:5-6

5-6. The ill-rooted roof grass, which withers before it grows up and procures for those gathering it no harvest blessing (Ru 2:4), sets forth the utter uselessness and the rejection of the wicked.

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