Psalms 129:8

8 while those who pass by do not say, "The blessing of the Lord be upon you! We bless you in the name of the Lord!"

Psalms 129:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 129:8

Neither do they which go by say, the blessing of the Lord [be]
upon you
As was usual with passengers, when they went by where mowers, and reapers, and binders, were at work in the field in harvest time; who used to wish the presence and blessing of God with them, and upon their labours; and who returned the salutation, as may be seen in Boaz and his reapers, ( Ruth 2:4 ) ;

we bless you in the name of the Lord;
which is either a continuation of the blessing of the passengers, or the answer of the reapers to them; so the Targum,

``nor do they answer them, "we bless you",'' &c.

The sense is, that those wicked men would have no blessing on them, from God nor men; that no God speed would be wished them; but that they were like the earth, that is covered with briers and thorns; which is nigh unto cursing, and its end to be burned.

Psalms 129:8 In-Context

6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops that withers before it grows up,
7 with which reapers do not fill their hands or binders of sheaves their arms,
8 while those who pass by do not say, "The blessing of the Lord be upon you! We bless you in the name of the Lord!"
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.