{A song of the stairs} Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up, may Israel now say.

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."

All them that have an evil will to Zion shall be confounded, and made to turn back from it.

Let them be even as the hay upon the housetops, which withereth afore it be grown up;

The plowers plowed upon my back, and made long furrows.

But the righteous LORD hath hewn the snares of the ungodly in pieces.

whereof the mower filleth not his hand, neither he that bindeth up the sheaves his bosom.

Yea, many a time have they vexed me from my youth up, but they have not overcome me.