PSALM 129

During the winter months, there is a Jewish tradition of studying a special set of psalms - "tehilim" - on Shabbat afternoons. These psalms, #120-#134, are known as the Shir HaMaalot/Songs of Ascent psalms, as that is the first phrase in each psalm.  Each week, one of these psalms will be presented here.  We have so far covered Psalm 104, the Psalm for the New Month, and Psalms 120-128. This week, we look at Psalm 129, which we can find in Sefaria at https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.129.2?lang=bi.

In a technique also used by many prophets (including Hosea, Jeremiah and Ezekiel), Psalm 129 presents the entire people of Israel as a single person. He has been harassed and tortured by other people for his entire life, both for his own actual sins and out of their own hatred and jealously. Now, with G-d’s help, he is finally returning from exile to his own land, even as his enemies fail and die away.  It is the fulfillment of G-d’s covenant with Abraham: “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse the one who curses you; and all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you.” (Genesis 12:2-3).

A Song of Ascents.

Since my youth they have often assailed me, let Israel now declare,

Since my youth they have often assailed me, but they have never overcome me.

Plowers plowed across my back; they made long furrows.

G-d, the righteous one, has snapped the cords of the wicked.

Let all who hate Zion fall back in disgrace.

Let them be like grass on roofs that fades before it can be pulled up,

that affords no handful for the reaper, no armful for the gatherer of sheaves,

no exchange with passersby:

“G-d’s blessing be upon you.” “We bless you by G-d’s name.”