Psalm 129 (Saepe expugnaverunt)

Oft and ever from my youth,
Soe now Israel may say:
Israel may say for truth,
Ofte and ever my decay
From my youth their force hath sought,
Yet effect it never wrought.

Unto them my back did yeeld
Place and paine (O height of woe)
Where, as in a plowed field
Long and deepe did furrowes goe.
But O just Jehova, thou
Hast their plow-ropes cutt in two!

Tell me you that Sion hate,
What you think shall be your end?
Terror shall your mindes amate,
Blush and shame your faces shend.
Mark the wheate on howses topp,
Such your harvest, such your cropp.

Wither shall you where you stand;
Gather'd? noe: but wanting sapp:
Filling neither reapers hand
Nor the binders inbow'd lapp.
Nay who you shall reape or bind
Common kindnesse shall not find.

Such as travail by the way,
Where as they their paines imploy,
Shall not once saluting say,
God speed friendes, God give you joy:
He in whome all blessings raignes
Blesse your selves, and blesse your paines.