¹{A Song of degrees.} Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth -- oh let Israel say --

¹Vakanditambudza kazhinji kubva pauduku hwangu, Isiraeri ngaadaro zvino;

²Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me.

²Vakanditambudza kazhinji kubva pauduku hwangu; Kunyange zvakadaro havana kundikunda.

³The ploughers ploughed upon my back; they made long their furrows.

³Varimi vakarima pamusana wangu; Vakaita mihoronga yavo mirefu.

⁴Jehovah is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

⁴Jehovha akarurama; Akaguranya mabote avakaipa.

⁵Let them be ashamed and turned backward, all that hate Zion;

⁵Ngavanyadziswe, vadzoserwe shure, Ivo vose vanovenga Ziyoni.

⁶Let them be as the grass upon the house-tops, which withereth before it is plucked up,

⁶Ngavave souswa pamatenga eimba, Hunooma husati hwakura;

⁷Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom;

⁷Mucheki haazadzi ruoko rwake nahwo, Uye anosunga zvisote, fungatwa rake.

⁸Neither do the passers-by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you; we bless you in the name of Jehovah!

⁸Navanopfuura havangati, Jehovha ngaakuropafadzei; Tinokuropafadzai nezita raJehovha.