1Many 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.” 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 them that 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, “The LORD bless you; we bless you in the name of the LORD”.

A Song of degrees. During the Babylonian captivity.