Psalm 129

The last three lines must reflect an insincere greeting. These songs of the steps are a mixture of negatives and positives.

A song of the steps

Exceedingly they afflicted me from my youth
so let it be said Israel
exceedingly they afflicted me from my youth
but they have not prevailed over me

On my back the ploughers ploughed
prolonging their furrows
righteous יְהוָה has cut in two the cords of the wicked

let all those hating Zion be ashamed and be turned back
let them become as housetop grass
which withers before it is matured
with which the reaper does not fill his palm
or his breast the binder

and those going by will not say
the blessing of יְהוָה on you
we bless you in the name of יְהוָה