1 <A Song of the going up.> Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young (let Israel now say);
2 Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young, but my troubles have not overcome me.
3 The ploughmen were ploughing on my back; long were the wounds they made.
4 The Lord is true: the cords of the evil-doers are broken in two.
5 Let all the haters of Zion be shamed and turned back.
6 Let them be like the grass on the house-tops, which is dry before it comes to full growth.
7 He who gets in the grain has no use for it; and they do not make bands of it for the grain-stems.
8 And those who go by do not say, The blessing of the Lord be on you; we give you blessing in the name of the Lord.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 129
Commentary on Psalms 129 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 129
Ps 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" (Ps 124:1). Israel's youth was the sojourn in Egypt (Jer 2:2; Ho 2:15).
2. prevailed—literally, "been able," that is, to accomplish their purpose against me (Ps 13:4).
3, 4. The ploughing is a figure of scourging, which most severe physical infliction aptly represents all kinds.
4. the cords—that is, which fasten the plough to the ox; and cutting denotes God's arresting the persecution;
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.