1 A Song of the Ascents. Often they distressed me from my youth, Pray, let Israel say: 2 Often they distressed me from my youth, Yet they have not prevailed over me. 3 Over my back have ploughers ploughed, They have made long their furrows. 4 Jehovah [is] righteous, He hath cut asunder cords of the wicked. 5 Confounded and turn backward do all hating Zion. 6 They are as grass of the roofs, That before it was drawn out withereth, 7 That hath not filled the hand of a reaper, And the bosom of a binder of sheaves. 8 And the passers by have not said, 'The blessing of Jehovah [is] on you, We blessed you in the Name of Jehovah!'