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Psalm 129-131
New English Translation
Psalm 129-131
New English Translation
Psalm 129[a]
A song of ascents.[b]
129 “Since my youth they have often attacked me,”
let Israel say.
2 “Since my youth they have often attacked me,
but they have not defeated me.
3 The plowers plowed my back;
they made their furrows long.
4 The Lord is just;
he cut the ropes of the wicked.”[c]
5 May all who hate Zion
be humiliated and turned back.
6 May they be like the grass on the rooftops,
which withers before one can even pull it up,[d]
7 which cannot fill the reaper’s hand,
or the lap of the one who gathers the grain.
8 Those who pass by will not say,[e]
“May you experience the Lord’s blessing!
We pronounce a blessing on you in the name of the Lord.”
Psalm 130[f]
A song of ascents.[g]
130 From the deep water[h] I cry out to you, O Lord.
2 O Lord, listen to me.[i]
Pay attention to[j] my plea for mercy.
3 If you, O Lord, were to keep track of[k] sins,
O Lord, who could stand before you?[l]
4 But[m] you are willing to forgive,[n]
so that you might[o] be honored.[p]
5 I rely on[q] the Lord.
I rely on him with my whole being;[r]
I wait for his assuring word.[s]
6 I yearn for the Lord,[t]
more than watchmen do for the morning,
yes, more than watchmen do for the morning.[u]
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord,
for the Lord exhibits loyal love,[v]
and is more than willing to deliver.[w]
8 He will deliver[x] Israel
from all their sins.[y]
Psalm 131[z]
A song of ascents,[aa] by David.
131 O Lord, my heart is not proud,
nor do I have a haughty look.[ab]
I do not have great aspirations,
or concern myself with things that are beyond me.[ac]
2 Indeed,[ad] I have calmed and quieted myself[ae]
like a weaned child with its mother;[af]
I am content like a young child.[ag]
3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
now and forevermore!
Footnotes
- Psalm 129:1 sn Psalm 129. Israel affirms God’s justice and asks him to destroy the enemies of Zion.
- Psalm 129:1 sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.
- Psalm 129:4 tn The background of the metaphor is not entirely clear. Perhaps the “ropes” are those used to harness the ox for plowing (see Job 39:10). Verse 3 pictures the wicked plowing God’s people as if they were a field. But when God “cut the ropes” of their ox, as it were, they could no longer plow. The point of the metaphor seems to be that God took away the enemies’ ability to oppress his people. See L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 187.
- Psalm 129:6 tn The Hebrew verb שָׁלַף (shalaf) normally means “to draw [a sword]” or “to pull.” BDB 1025 s.v. suggests the meaning “to shoot up” here, but it is more likely that the verb here means “to pluck; to pull up,” a nuance attested for this word in later Hebrew and Aramaic (see Jastrow 1587 s.v. שָׁלַף).
- Psalm 129:8 tn The perfect verbal form is used for rhetorical effect; it describes an anticipated development as if it were already reality.
- Psalm 130:1 sn Psalm 130. The psalmist, confident of the Lord’s forgiveness, cries out to the Lord for help in the midst of his suffering and urges Israel to do the same.
- Psalm 130:1 sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.
- Psalm 130:1 tn Heb “depths,” that is, deep waters (see Ps 69:2, 14; Isa 51:10), a metaphor for the life-threatening danger faced by the psalmist.
- Psalm 130:2 tn Heb “my voice.”
- Psalm 130:2 tn Heb “may your ears be attentive to the voice of.”
- Psalm 130:3 tn Heb “observe.”
- Psalm 130:3 tn The words “before you” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The psalmist must be referring to standing before God’s judgment seat. The rhetorical question expects the answer, “No one.”
- Psalm 130:4 tn Or “surely.”
- Psalm 130:4 tn Heb “for with you [there is] forgiveness.”
- Psalm 130:4 tn Or “consequently you are.”
- Psalm 130:4 tn Heb “feared.”
- Psalm 130:5 tn Or “wait for.”
- Psalm 130:5 tn Heb “my soul waits.”
- Psalm 130:5 tn Heb “his word.”
- Psalm 130:6 tn Heb “my soul for the master.”
- Psalm 130:6 tn Heb “more than watchmen for the morning, watchmen for the morning.” The words “yes, more” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Psalm 130:7 tn Heb “for with the Lord [is] loyal love.”
- Psalm 130:7 tn Heb “and abundantly with him [is] redemption.”
- Psalm 130:8 tn Or “redeem.”
- Psalm 130:8 tn Or “all the consequences of their sins.” The Hebrew noun עָוֹן (ʿavon) can refer to sin, the guilt sin produces, or the consequences of sin. Only here is the noun collocated with the verb פָּדָה (padah, “to redeem; to deliver”). The psalmist may refer to deliverance from the national consequences of sin or forgiveness per se (v. 4). See L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 192.
- Psalm 131:1 sn Psalm 131. The psalmist affirms his humble dependence on the Lord and urges Israel to place its trust in God.
- Psalm 131:1 sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.
- Psalm 131:1 tn Heb “and my eyes are not lifted up.”
- Psalm 131:1 tn Heb “I do not walk in great things, and in things too marvelous for me.”
- Psalm 131:2 tn Or “but.”
- Psalm 131:2 tn Heb “I make level and make quiet my soul.”
- Psalm 131:2 tn Heb “like a weaned [one] upon his mother.”
- Psalm 131:2 tn Heb “like the weaned [one] upon me, my soul.”
Psalm 129-131
New International Version
Psalm 129-131
New International Version
Psalm 129
A song of ascents.
1 “They have greatly oppressed(A) me from my youth,”(B)
let Israel say;(C)
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory(D) over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous;(E)
he has cut me free(F) from the cords of the wicked.”(G)
5 May all who hate Zion(H)
be turned back in shame.(I)
6 May they be like grass on the roof,(J)
which withers(K) before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,(L)
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them,
“The blessing of the Lord be on you;
we bless you(M) in the name of the Lord.”
Psalm 130
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths(N) I cry to you,(O) Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.(P)
Let your ears be attentive(Q)
to my cry for mercy.(R)
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?(S)
4 But with you there is forgiveness,(T)
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.(U)
5 I wait for the Lord,(V) my whole being waits,(W)
and in his word(X) I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen(Y) wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.(Z)
7 Israel, put your hope(AA) in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love(AB)
and with him is full redemption.(AC)
8 He himself will redeem(AD) Israel
from all their sins.(AE)
Psalm 131
A song of ascents. Of David.
New English Translation (NET)
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