Song Deep Dive: Psalm 129 (Greatly Oppressed)
About Psalm 129
Psalm 129 is one of the imprecatory psalms, the prayers in Scripture that deal honestly with anger, injustice, and the wounds we carry. The psalmist describes suffering so deep it feels like enemies have plowed long furrows across his back, yet he declares with confidence that the LORD is righteous and has cut him free from the cords of the wicked. Psalm 129 reminds us that there are things in this world that should wither rather than flourish, and that God Himself stands against pride, lies, violence, and injustice. The psalms teach us to bring our anger and sorrow to God instead of burying them or turning them against others. They train us to face a broken world by going to the One who heals, restores, and judges righteously. Scripture also reminds us that our true battle is not against other people but against the powers of darkness, and through Jesus those powers have been defeated. Psalm 129 invites us to bring our pain, fear, and frustration honestly before the LORD and trust Him to carry what we cannot. In His presence we find strength, freedom, and the assurance that we are still standing because God is faithful.
Psalm 129
A song of ascents.
1 “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,”
let Israel say;
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous;
he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”
5 May all who hate Zion
be turned back in shame.
6 May they be like grass on the roof,
which withers before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them,
“The blessing of the Lord be on you;
we bless you in the name of the Lord.”
Stephen's Thoughts
After writing this song, I played it for my daughter Ella, who was seven at the time. She listened for a moment and said, “It sounds like running from the old town folk. It sounds like they’re catching up to you.” I told her, “That is exactly what it is supposed to sound like.” Most of the song has a lively, old-west feel, but it ends with a somber minute and a half of guitar and cello to reflect the weight of Psalm 129’s ending. The psalmist says that those who pass by should not speak a blessing over the oppressors, and that line troubled me as I wrote. But as I prayed through the psalm, I realized that there is real evil in this world that should not be blessed, and the music needed to honor both the intensity and the honesty of that truth.
Listen to Psalm 129 (Greatly Oppressed)
Musical Credits
Stephen Vesolich (Vocals and Guitar)
Stephanie Wilsey (Vocals)
Charlie Modro (Djembe Drums)
Ariel Goehring: (Cello)
Lyrics
They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained
the victory over me.
They have greatly oppressed me from my youth;
plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
But the LORD is righteous;
He has cut me free
from the cords of the wicked—
of the wicked.
May all who hate Zion
be turned in shame.
May they be like grass on the roof,
which withers before it grows.
May all who hate Zion
be turned in shame.
May those who pass by
not say to them:
“The blessing of the LORD be on you;
we bless you
in the name of the LORD.”
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