Psalms 129:8

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.”

Psalms 129:8 in Other Translations

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.

8 nor do those who pass by say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!"

8 And may those who pass by refuse to give them this blessing: “The LORD bless you; we bless you in the LORD ’s name.”

8 Before the neighbors have a chance to call out, "Congratulations on your wonderful crop! We bless you in God's name!"

8 Neither do they that go by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you; We bless you in the name of Jehovah.

8 Those who pass by will never say [to them], "May you be blessed by the LORD" or "We bless you in the name of the LORD."

8 Then none who pass by will say, "May the Lord's blessing be on you." We bless you in the name of the Lord.

8 May no one who passes by say to those who hate Zion, "May the blessing of the LORD be on you. We bless you in the name of the Lord."

Psalms 129:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 129:8

Neither do they which go by say, the blessing of the Lord [be]
upon you
As was usual with passengers, when they went by where mowers, and reapers, and binders, were at work in the field in harvest time; who used to wish the presence and blessing of God with them, and upon their labours; and who returned the salutation, as may be seen in Boaz and his reapers, ( Ruth 2:4 ) ;

we bless you in the name of the Lord;
which is either a continuation of the blessing of the passengers, or the answer of the reapers to them; so the Targum,

``nor do they answer them, "we bless you",'' &c.

The sense is, that those wicked men would have no blessing on them, from God nor men; that no God speed would be wished them; but that they were like the earth, that is covered with briers and thorns; which is nigh unto cursing, and its end to be burned.

Psalms 129:8 In-Context

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.”

Cross References

• 1. Ruth 2:4; Psalms 118:26