1 {A song of the stairs} Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up, may Israel now say.
2 Yea, many a time have they vexed me from my youth up, but they have not overcome me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back, and made long furrows.
4 But the righteous LORD hath hewn the snares of the ungodly in pieces.
5 All them that have an evil will to Zion shall be confounded, and made to turn back from it.
6 Let them be even as the hay upon the housetops, which withereth afore it be grown up;
7 whereof the mower filleth not his hand, neither he that bindeth up the sheaves his bosom.
8 So that they which go by, say not so much as, "the LORD prosper you, we wish you good luck in the name of the LORD."