Revised Standard Version RSV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 A Song of Ascents. "Sorely have they afflicted me from my youth," let Israel now say--
1
"From the time I was young, people have attacked me..." (Israel should repeat this.)
2 "Sorely have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.
2
"From the time I was young, people have attacked me, but they have never overpowered me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows."
3
They have plowed my back [like farmers plow fields]. They made long slashes [like furrows]."
4 The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked.
4
The LORD is righteous. He has cut me loose from the ropes that wicked people tied around me.
5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward!
5
Put to shame all those who hate Zion. Force them to retreat.
6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,
6
Make them be like grass on a roof, like grass that dries up before it produces a stalk.
7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand or the binder of sheaves his bosom,
7
It will never fill the barns of those who harvest or the arms of those who gather bundles.
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!"
8
Those who pass by will never say [to them], "May you be blessed by the LORD" or "We bless you in the name of the LORD."
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.