[1] Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
From my youth — From the time that I was a people.
[4] The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
Righteous — Faithful or merciful.
The cords — Wherewith the plow was drawn. By these cords he understands all their plots and endeavours.
[6] Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
House-tops — Which there were flat.
Which — Having no deep root, never comes to maturity. And so all their designs shall be abortive.
[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.
The blessing — Which was an usual salutation given by passengers to reapers: so the meaning is, it never continues 'till the harvest comes.
Psalm 129 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 1
[1] Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
From my youth — From the time that I was a people.
Verse 4
[4] The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
Righteous — Faithful or merciful.
The cords — Wherewith the plow was drawn. By these cords he understands all their plots and endeavours.
Verse 6
[6] Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
House-tops — Which there were flat.
Which — Having no deep root, never comes to maturity. And so all their designs shall be abortive.
Verse 8
[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.
The blessing — Which was an usual salutation given by passengers to reapers: so the meaning is, it never continues 'till the harvest comes.