A Song of degrees.

1Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth; let Israel now say,

2“Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me.” 3My back is covered with cuts, as if they plowed it with long deep furrows. 4But the LORD is righteous; He has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.

5Let all those who hate Zion be confounded and defeated. 6Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it can grow, 7That is disregarded by the reaper because he cannot even find a handful of it; let alone anything worth binding in sheaves. 8Nor will any who pass by say to them, “The LORD bless you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.”