A psalm written for people going up to the temple to worship

129 I say that my enemies have ◄afflicted/caused trouble for► me ever since I was young.

Now I ask you, my fellow Israelis, to repeat those same words:

2 “Our enemies have afflicted us since our nation began,

but they have not defeated us!

3 Our enemies struck us with whips that cut into our backs [MET]

like a farmer uses a plow to cut deep furrows into the ground.”

4 But Yahweh is righteous,

and he has freed me from being a slave [MTY] of wicked people.

5 I wish/hope that all those who hate Jerusalem/Israel will be ashamed because of being defeated.

6 I hope/wish that they will be of no value, like grass that grows on the roofs of houses

that dries up and does not grow tall;

7 as a result no one cuts it and puts it in bundles and carries it away.

8 People who pass by and see men harvesting grain usually greet them by saying to them,

“We wish/hope that Yahweh will bless you!”

But this will not happen to those who hate Israel.

We, acting as Yahweh’s representatives, bless you Israelis.