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Psalterium Catholicum offers praying the Psalms, practicing Lectio Divina, and exploring faithful Catholic resources for daily devotion.

Psalm 128 The Psalter Psalm 130

PSALMVS CXXIX

Saepe expugnaverunt

A Song of Degrees: God's Protection · Trust · Book V

Pray this Psalm · Lectio Divina

1Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.

2For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.

3Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house.

4Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

5May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayest thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

6And mayest thou see thy children's children, peace upon Israel.

Douay-Rheims · Challoner Revision

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Wisdom of the Church

Psalm 129 (128 in the Vulgate) is classified as one of the fifteen 'Songs of Ascents' (Psalms 120–134), traditionally sung by Jewish pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for the three annual festivals. While lacking an explicit Davidic superscription, it reflects the collective memory of Israel, characterized by the recurring theme of divine deliverance from affliction. Scholars view the psalm as a communal lament transitioning into a song of confidence, reflecting the historical reality of a nation repeatedly besieged by enemies. The 'plowers' mentioned in verse 3 are often understood as historical oppressors—symbolically representing foreign empires like Assyria, Babylon, or those under the Hasmonean struggles—who sought to 'plow' the back of Israel to erase its identity. In the context of the Second Temple, this psalm served as a liturgical reminder that Israel’s survival was not due to political might, but to the Lord’s righteousness in severing the 'cords of the wicked.' It encapsulates the theological resilience of the post-exilic community, reaffirming their status as a people chosen by the covenant God who remains faithful despite the persistent historical threats of eradication.