Martin Luther on Psalms 129:5

Verſe 5. Let them that hate Sion be confounded and turned back. This (as before I have ſaid) is a Prayer. But ye know that in every Prayer there is a Promiſe included, which Promiſe this word Righteous doth expreſs in the former verſe with a ſingular vehemency, to the end we ſhould not murmur, or blaſpheme God, as though he were not mindful of us, or had not regard of us. Now, where he ſaith, Let them be confounded and turned back; it is an expoſition of that which he ſaid before, that their cords ſhould be cut, that is to ſay, their Kingdoms, their Power, their Riches, their Laws, and finally their whole politick body and common weal ſhould be brought to nought: as it befell to Babylon, Ninive, Jeruſalem, Athens, Corinth, Thebes, Rome, and briefly to all theſe Kingdoms and Common-weales, which did not ſubmit themſelves to the Goſpel. For when they proudly ſtretched out their necks and ſet themſelves againſt Chriſt their King, and by their power ſought to oppreſs him, they were deſtroyed. In like manner muſt we alſo pray, and certainly look for the execution of Gods vengeance upon thoſe which at this day have ſet themſelves againſt the Goſpel; as the Pope and his Biſhops, with all their faction, and with all the Kings and Princes of the earth which maintain and defend their impiety; for at the laſt they ſhall be confounded. But the Goſpel and the Word of the Lord ſhall endure for ever. For the name of Chriſt ſhall never be oppreſſed, but being faithfully called upon, ſhall always be ready to help the afflicted, and ſhall cut the cords now of the wicked man, and now of that. Thus the Holy Ghoſt comforteth us ſundry ways. For when we have learned that Satan is ſuch a Spirit as never ceaſeth to tempt and to vex us, (ſo that when he cannot overcome us by the greatneſs and multitude of tentations, he goeth about to do it by the tediouſneſs and long continuance thereof) he would have us to comfort our ſelves herewith, that albeit theſe tentations continue long, yet notwithſtanding they ſhall have an end. And ſince we are forewarned both of the continuance & of the end thereof, it is the more eaſy for as to bear them. Here is to be noted alſo that he ſheweth to whom he wiſheth evil, namely to thoſe which hate Sion. And that hatred which they bare againſt Sion, was an hatred againſt God. For in that Satan hateth the Church, he doth it not only in reſpect of men, but becauſe he hateth God himſelf, whom the Church praiſeth and magnifieth. Moreover, Sion was a place which God had choſen unto himſelf. Like as therefore God had choſen that place to ſhew his great love towards it; ſo had Satan choſen the ſame to ſhew his malice againſt it, and with all his power to vex it. In like manner, not only Satan, but alſo the malignant Church of the Pope, doth perſecute us; not becauſe we are evil in the ſight of the World; for this they could well ſuffer, yea and would be glad if they might hear that we are Whoremongers and Murtherers as they are: But the true cauſe why they ſo deadly hate and perſecute us, is this, for that it grieveth them, that we in their eyes are innocent as touching the ſecond table, and alſo obedient to the firſt; wherein we are commanded to honour, ſerve, and praiſe the Lord; to fear him, and truſt in his Mercy, &c.