1.
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
1, 2. may Israel now say—or,
"oh! let Israel say" (). Israel's youth was the sojourn in Egypt (Jeremiah 2:2;
Hosea 2:15).
2.
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
2. prevailed—literally, "been
able," that is, to accomplish their purpose against me ().
3.
The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.
3, 4. The ploughing is a
figure of scourging, which most severe physical infliction aptly
represents all kinds.
4.
The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
4. the cords—that is, which
fasten the plough to the ox; and cutting denotes God's
arresting the persecution;
5.
Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.
5, 6. The ill-rooted roof grass,
which withers before it grows up and procures for those gathering it
no harvest blessing (Ruth 2:4),
sets forth the utter uselessness and the rejection of the wicked.
6.
Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
7.
Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
8.
Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.