Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young (let Israel now say);
2
Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young, but my troubles have not overcome me.
3
The ploughmen were ploughing on my back; long were the wounds they made.
4
The Lord is true: the cords of the evil-doers are broken in two.
Psalms 129:1 — Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions
What does Psalms 129:1 say?
Psalms 129:1 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “ Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young (let Israel now say);”
Where is Psalms 129:1 in the Bible?
Psalms 129:1 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Psalms, chapter 129, verse 1.
Who wrote Psalms?
Psalms is traditionally attributed to Multiple authors (David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, others). Approximately 73 psalms are attributed to David; others to Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, Heman, and Ethan; the remainder are anonymous. It was written c. 1410–430 BC.
What is the book of Psalms about?
The Psalms are the prayer book and hymnal of God's people, gathering a thousand years of inspired song — praise, lament, thanksgiving, confession, and royal and messianic worship. Every emotion of the believing heart finds a voice here, and every voice finds its center in Christ.
What are the major themes of Psalms?
Psalms explores themes including Praise, Lament, Trust, Messiah, Refuge, Kingship. These themes shape the meaning and context of Psalms 129:1.
What translation should I read Psalms 129:1 in?
Psalms 129:1 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Psalms 129:1?
Psalms 129:1 reads (BBE): “ Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young (let Israel now say);” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.