Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 129

PSAL. CXXIX.

A Song of degrees.

OFten have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say. Often have they afflicted me from my youth, yet have they not prevailed against me. The plowers plowed upon my backe, they made long their furrow. Iehovah just, he hath cut asunder the cord of the wicked. Let them be abashed and turned backe, all that hate Sion. Let them be as the grasse of the house tops, which afore one pulleth it off, is withered. Wherewith he that moweth, filleth not his hand; or he that bindeth sheaves, his bosome. Neither doe they that passe by say, The blessing of Iehovah be upon you, we blesse you in the Name of Iehovah.

Annotations. OFten] or Much, vehemently. from my youth] my first constitution, in Aegypt, Ezek. 23. 3. not prevailed] in Chaldee, they could not doe me evill. Vers. 3. plowers] that plow iniquitie, Iob 4 8. the Greeke saith, sinners. furrow] and furrowes, that is, every of them; (for the Hebrew hath both readings) meaning their injuries, or iniquitie, as the Greeke turneth it. Vers. 4. cord] for cords, or ropes; one put for many: see Psal. 8. 9. by cords, meaning counsels and enterprises, wherewith they drew the plough of their iniquitie, Esai. 5. 18. Vers. 5. Let them] or, They shall be abashed. Vers. 6. pulleth it off] or pulleth out, namely, the hooke to cut it. The Chaldee explaines it, which before it flourisheth, an East wind commeth and bloweth on it, and it withereth. Vers. 7. his bosome] his armes; as Esai. 49. 22. or lap. Vers. 8. we blesse you] the Chaldee addeth, and they answer them not, we blesse you, &c. taking this latter branch to be the harvest mens answer, as in Ruth 2. 4.