Psalms 129 Cross References - ISV

¹ A Song of Ascents
God Defeats Israel’s Enemies “Since my youth they have often persecuted me,” let Israel repeat it, ² “Since my youth they have often persecuted me, yet they haven’t defeated me. ³ Wicked people ploughed over my back, creating long-lasting wounds.” ⁴ The LORD is righteous— he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked. ⁵ Let all who hate Zion be turned away and be ashamed. ⁶ May they become like a tuft of grass on a roof top, that withers before it takes root— ⁷ not enough to fill one’s hand or to bundle in one’s arms. ⁸ And may those who pass by never tell them, “May the LORD’s blessing be upon you. We bless you in the name of the LORD.”

¹² But the more the Egyptians afflicted the Israelis, the more they multiplied and flourished, so that the Egyptians became terrified of the Israelis. ¹³ The Egyptians ruthlessly forced the Israelis to serve them, ¹⁴ making their lives bitter through hard labor with mortar, bricks, and all kinds of outdoor labor. They ruthlessly imposed all this work on them.

²² Meanwhile, Pharaoh continued commanding all of his people, “You’re to throw every Hebrew son who is born into the Nile River, but you’re to allow every Hebrew daughter to live.”

⁷ “You’re no longer to give the people straw for making bricks, as in the past. They must gather straw for themselves. ⁸ But you’re to impose the previous quota of bricks that they’re making. You’re not to reduce it! It is because they’re lazy that they’re crying out, ‘Let’s go offer sacrifices to our God.’ ⁹ So increase the work load on the people, and let them do it so they don’t pay attention to deceptive speeches.”
¹⁰ Then the taskmasters of the people and their officials went out and told the people, “This is Pharaoh’s response: ‘I’ll no longer give you any straw. ¹¹ Go get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work quotas won’t be reduced at all.’” ¹² So the people scattered throughout the entire land of Egypt to collect stubble for straw.
¹³ The taskmasters pressured them by saying, “Finish your work—each day’s quota—just as when you were given straw.”
¹⁴ The Israeli supervisors whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had appointed over them were beaten and told, “Why didn’t you, both yesterday and today, fulfill your quota for making bricks as before?”
¹⁵ The Israelis’ Appeal Rejected by PharaohThe Israeli supervisors came and cried out to Pharaoh, “Why are you doing this to us? ¹⁶ No straw is being given to us, yet they’re saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, we are being beaten. It’s wrong how you are treating your people!”
¹⁷ Then Pharaoh said, “You are lazy, lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let’s go offer sacrifices to the LORD.’ ¹⁸ Now, go! Get to work! And straw won’t be given to you, but you are to deliver the same number of bricks!” ¹⁹ The Israeli supervisors realized they were in trouble when he said, “You won’t reduce each day’s quota of bricks!”

¹⁵ Wherever they went, the LORD worked against them to bring misfortune, just as the LORD had warned, and just as the LORD had promised them. As a result, they suffered greatly.

⁸ Then in his burning anger against Israel, the LORD delivered them to domination by King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. So the Israelis served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.

⁸ who trampled and troubled the Israelis during that year—eighteen years for the Israelis who lived east of the Jordan River in Gilead, the land occupied by the Amorites. ⁹ The Ammonites crossed the Jordan River to fight against the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim. As a result, Israel was deeply distressed. ¹⁰ Then the Israelis cried out to the LORD and told him, “We have sinned against you because we have abandoned our God to serve the Baals.”
¹¹ The LORD replied to the Israelis, “Aren’t you away from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines? ¹² And when the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites harassed you, you cried out to me, and I delivered you from under their domination.

¹⁹ The Philistine Monopoly on Metal WorkingNo blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel because the Philistines thought, “This will keep the Hebrews from making swords or spears.”

¹ A Plot to Hinder the WorkWhen the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the descendants of the Babylonian captivity had built their Temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, ² they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families with this message: “Let’s build along with you, because, like you, we seek your God, as do you, and we’ve been making sacrifices to him since the reign of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who brought us here.”
³ But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part in our plans for building a temple to our God, because we alone will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, in accordance with the decree issued by King Cyrus, king of Persia.”
⁴ The Plot Succeeds—for a WhileAfter this, the non-Israeli inhabitants of the land undermined the people of Judah, harassing them in their construction work ⁵ by bribing their consultants in order to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia until Darius became king.
⁶ At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, they lodged a formal accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. ⁷ While Artaxerxes was king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their co-conspirators wrote in the Aramaic language and script to King Artaxerxes of Persia.
Aramaic:
⁸ Governor Rehum and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:
⁹ From Governor Rehum
Shimshai the scribe
The rest of their colleagues—
Judges, envoys, officials, Persians, the people of Erech, the Babylonians, the people of Susa (that is, the Elamites) ¹⁰ and many other nations whom the great and honorable Osnappar deported and resettled in Samaria and in the rest of the province beyond the Euphrates River.
¹¹ This is the text of the letter they sent. To: King Artaxerxes From: Your servants, the men of the province beyond the Euphrates River. ¹² May the king be advised that the Jews who came from you to us have reached Jerusalem and are rebuilding a rebellious and wicked city, having completed its walls and repaired its foundations. ¹³ May the king be further advised that if this city is rebuilt and its walls erected, its citizens will refuse to pay tributes, taxes, and tariffs, thereby restricting royal revenues. ¹⁴ Now, because we are royal employees and are committed to preserving the reputation of the king, we have written to the king and have declared its contents to be true, ¹⁵ urging that a search may be made in the official registers of your predecessors. You will discover in the registers that this city is a rebellious city, that it is damaging to both kings and provinces, that it has been moved to sedition from time immemorial, and that because of this it was destroyed. ¹⁶ We certify to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls completed, you will lose your land holdings in the province beyond the Euphrates River.
¹⁷ The Response of AhasuerusThe king replied: To: Governor Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues living in Samaria, and the remainder living beyond the Euphrates River. Greetings: ¹⁸ The memorandum you sent to us has been read and carefully considered. ¹⁹ Pursuant to my edict, an investigation has been undertaken. It is noted that this city has fomented rebellion against kings from time immemorial, and that rebellion and sedition has occurred in it. ²⁰ Powerful kings have reigned over Jerusalem, including ruling over all lands beyond the Euphrates River. Furthermore, taxes, tribute, and tolls have been paid to them. ²¹ Accordingly, issue an order to force these men to cease their work so that this city is not rebuilt until you receive further notice from me. ²² Be diligent and take precautions so that you do not neglect your responsibility in this matter. Why should the kingdom sustain any more damage?
²³ Reconstruction CeasesAs soon as a copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, to Shimshai the scribe, and to their colleagues, they traveled quickly to Jerusalem and compelled the Jews to cease by force of arms.

¹⁵ Since my youth I have been oppressed and in danger of death. I bear your dread and am overwhelmed.

¹ A Song of Ascents
A Prayer for Deliverance I cried to the LORD in my distress, and he responded to me.

¹ A Song of Ascents
The Guardian of God’s People I lift up my eyes toward the mountains— from where will my help come?

¹ A Davidic Song of Ascents
Up to Jerusalem I rejoiced when they kept on asking me, “Let us go to the LORD’s Temple.”

¹ A Song of Ascents
A Prayer for Relief To you, who sit enthroned in heaven, I lift up my eyes.

¹ A Davidic Song of Ascents
God is for Us If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel now say—

¹ A Song of Ascents
God is Secure Those who are trusting in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be overthrown. They remain forever.

¹ A Song of Ascents
The Exiles Restored When the LORD brought back Zion’s exiles, we were like dreamers.

¹ A Solomonic Song of Ascents
God’s Blessing in the Family Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor uselessly. Unless the LORD guards the city, its security forces keep watch uselessly.

¹ A Song of Ascents
The Blessings of Fearing God How blessed are all who fear the LORD as they follow in his ways.

¹² “But stand up now with your spells and your many incantations, at which you have labored from your childhood until today,

² “Go and announce to Jerusalem: ‘This is what the LORD says: “I remember the loyal devotion of your youth, your love as a bride. You followed me in the desert, in a land that was not planted.

²¹ I spoke to you when you were secure, but you said, “I won’t listen!” This has been your way since your youth, for you haven’t obeyed me.

³ Judah has gone into exile to escape affliction and servitude. She that sat among the nations, has found no rest. All her pursuers overtook her amid narrow passes.

³ They committed sexual immorality in Egypt. They did this in their youth. There, their breasts were caressed. Their virgin breasts were fondled.

¹⁵ There I will restore her vineyards to her, and the Valley of Achor will become a doorway to hope. There she will respond as she did in her youth, when she came up from Egypt.”

¹ God Loves Israel “When Israel was a young child I loved him, and from Egypt I called my son.

¹⁹ “He will deliver you through six calamities; and calamity won’t touch you throughout the seventh.

¹⁹ A righteous person will have many troubles, but the LORD will deliver him from them all.

¹ To the Director: An instruction of the Sons of Korah.
Hope in God When Times of Trouble Come As an antelope pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, God.

¹³ Indeed, you oppressed me so much that I nearly fell, but the LORD helped me.

¹⁸ I tell you that you are Peter, and it is on this rock that I will build my congregation, and the powers of hell will not conquer it.

³³ I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you’ll have trouble, but be courageous—I’ve overcome the world!”

³⁵ Who will separate us from the Messiah’s love? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or a violent death do this? ³⁶ As it is written, “For your sake we are being put to death all day long. We are thought of as sheep headed for slaughter.”
³⁷ In all these things we are triumphantly victorious due to the one who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor anything above, nor anything below, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is ours in union with the Messiah Jesus, our Lord.

⁸ In every way we’re troubled but not crushed, frustrated but not in despair, ⁹ persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed.

⁸ But it was not strong enough, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. ⁹ The huge dragon was hurled down. That ancient serpent, called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was hurled down to the earth, along with its angels.

⁷ Just as one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered near the entrance to the place of the dead.

²³ But I will put it into the hands of those who tormented and oppressed you, those who said to you, ‘Lie down, so we can step over you,’ so that you had to make your back like the ground, and like a street for them to walk over.”

¹⁵ LORD God of Israel, you are just: As a result, we remain here today delivered. Look at us! Because of our sin, we cannot stand in your presence as a result of everything that has happened.”

³³ You are righteous in all that is happening to us, because you have acted faithfully while we have practiced evil.

¹³⁷ Tsade
God’s Righteous DecreesLORD, you are righteous, and your judgments are right.

⁶ Blessed be the LORD, who did not give us as prey to their teeth. ⁷ We have escaped like a bird from the hunter’s trap. The trap has been broken, and we have escaped.

⁵ The arrogant have laid a trap for me; they have spread a net with ropes, lining it with snares along the way. Interlude ⁶ So I say to the LORD, “You are my God; listen to my voice as I plead for mercy, LORD. ⁷ LORD, my Lord, my strong deliverer, you have protected my head in the time of battle. ⁸ Never grant, LORD, the desires of the wicked; never condone their plans so they cannot exalt themselves. Interlude ⁹ May those who surround me discover that the trouble they talk about falls on their own head! ¹⁰ May burning coals fall on them; may they be cast into fire, and into miry pits, never to rise again. ¹¹ Let not the slanderer become established in the land. May evil quickly hunt down the violent man.

¹⁸ The LORD is in the right, but I rebelled against his commands. Listen, please, all you people, and look at my pain— my young men and women have gone into captivity.

²² Because of the LORD’s gracious love we are not consumed, since his compassions never end.

⁷ ‘To you, Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us, open humiliation—even to this day, to the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, both those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the lands to which you drove them because of their unfaithful acts that they committed against you.

¹³ Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His wise friends and his wife Zeresh told him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is one of the Jewish people, you won’t prevail against him. Instead, you will surely fall before him.”

⁵ The Jewish people struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did with their enemies as they pleased.

¹³ Let my adversaries be ashamed and consumed; let those who seek my destruction be covered with scorn and disgrace.

⁴ They say, “Let us go and erase them as a nation so the name of Israel will not be remembered anymore.” ⁵ Indeed, they shrewdly planned together, forming an alliance against you— ⁶ the tents of Edom, the Ishmaelites, Moab, the Hagrites, ⁷ Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia, and the inhabitants of Tyre. ⁸ Even Assyria joined them to strengthen the descendants of Lot. Interlude ⁹ Deal with them as you did to Midian, Sisera, and Jabin at the Kishon Brook. ¹⁰ They were destroyed at En-dor and became as dung on the ground. ¹¹ Punish their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

⁶ Pray for peace for Jerusalem: “May those who love you be at peace!

¹² Assyria will be Judged“For the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and against Jerusalem; he will punish the speech that comes from that willful heart of Assyria’s king and the haughty look in his eyes.

²² This is the message that the LORD has spoken in opposition to him: “‘The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem— she tosses her head behind you as you flee.

²⁸ “‘I know when you rise up and when you sit down, your comings and goings— and how you’ve become enraged at me. ²⁹ Your insolence has reached my ears, so I’ll put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I’ll make you turn back on the road by which you came.

³⁵ ‘because I will defend this city and deliver it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David!’”

¹¹ The Nations Despise Zion“Now many nations have gathered against you, saying, ‘Let her be defiled,’ and ‘Let’s look down on Zion.’

¹⁴ The LORD’s Concern for ZionThen the angel who was speaking to me told me, “Announce this: ‘This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: “I have a deep concern for Jerusalem, a great concern for Zion. ¹⁵ I am deeply angry with the nations who are complacent, with whom I was only a little displeased—but they made things worse!” ¹⁶ ‘Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I have returned to Jerusalem with compassionate intentions. My Temple will be rebuilt there,” declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, “and the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’”
¹⁷ The Future Prosperity of Zion“Also announce the following: ‘This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: “My cities will again overflow with prosperity. The LORD will comfort Zion once more and will choose Jerusalem again.”’”

³ It will come about at that time that I will make Jerusalem a heavy weight; so everyone who burdens themselves with it will be crushed, even though all of the nations of the earth gather themselves against it.

⁶ ‘At that time, I will make the leaders of Judah like a brazier filled with blazing wood, or like a torch setting fire to harvested grain. They will devour all the invading armies, both on the right hand and on the left. As a result, Jerusalem will again be inhabited in its rightful place—as the real Jerusalem.’”

²² If anyone doesn’t love the Lord, let him be condemned! May our Lord come!

²⁶ while their inhabitants, lacking strength, stand dismayed and confused. They were like vegetation out in the fields, and like green herbs— just as grass that grows on a housetop dries out before it can grow.

² Indeed, they soon will wither like grass, and like green herbs they will fade away.

⁷ Though the wicked sprout like grass; and all who practice iniquity flourish, it is they who will be eternally destroyed.

²⁷ Their inhabitants are devoid of power, and are terrified and put to shame. They’ve become like plants in the field, like green shoots, like grass on rooftops, scorched by the east wind.

⁵ Two Ways ContrastedThis is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the person who trusts in mankind, who makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD. ⁶ He will be like a bush in the desert, and he won’t see when good comes. He will dwell in parched places in the wilderness, a land of salt, without inhabitants.

⁶ But when the sun came up, they were scorched. Since they did not have any roots, they dried up.

⁶ The one who goes out weeping, carrying a bag of seeds, will surely return with a joyful song, bearing sheaves from his harvest.

¹⁰ For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the Rock that is your strength. Therefore even though you plant delightful plants, sowing them with imported vine-seedlings, ¹¹ at the time that you plant them, carefully making them grow, the very morning you make your seed to sprout, your harvest will be ruined in a time of grief and unbearable pain.”

⁷ “Because they sow the wind, they will reap the wind storm. The plant has no stalk and its bud yields no grain. Even if there’s a harvest, foreigners will gobble it up.

⁸ The person who sows through human means will harvest decay from human means, but the person who sows in the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit.

⁴ Now when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he told the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.”
“May the LORD bless you!” they replied.

²⁶ Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Let us bless you from the LORD’s house.