Изъяснение псалма 128-го.

"Song of Degrees". And this psalm contains a prediction about the nations that will rise up against the Jews upon their return. Jews learn to say this: Ps.129:1. They have oppressed me much from my youth, let Israel say. Ps.129:2. They have oppressed me a lot from my youth, but they did not overcome me. “You have fought with me with multitudes from my youth, let Israel therefore say”: “You have fought with me with multitudes from my youth, for you have not prevailed against me.” “Youth” the Prophet calls his stay in Egypt and liberation from there, and hymning the Benefactor, he enumerates God’s mercies: because from ancient times and from the very beginning many hostiles rose up against me, and they tried to suppress me with all kinds of disasters, but, with God’s help, I escaped their intrigues. Or rather, this befits a new people, who suffered many attacks from enemies, but overcame everyone, and turned their enemies into worshippers. Ps.129:3. On my ridge the Oratai were plowing and drawing their long furrows. “On my backbone there are sinners.” Akila and Theodotion translated: they were plowing. The prophetic word understands the scourges and plagues that the wicked imposed on the victorious martyrs. Blessed Daniel, and the wonderful Ananias, Azariah and Mishael, and the Maccabees under Antiochus suffered this. “You will continue your iniquity.” Aquila translated: they extended it, and Symmachus: they did not cease to embitter me, that is, they were at war with me for a long time, increasing their lawlessness. Ps.129:4. But the Lord is righteous: He has cut the bonds of the wicked. “The Lord is righteous and cuts off the necks of sinners.” The word: “neck” Aquila and Symmachus translated: snares, Theodotion: collars. All this is true, because the snares prepared for the saints were cut by God, and the shackles placed on them were crushed, and the very necks of sinners were “cut off.” Ps.129:5. Let all who hate Zion be ashamed and turn back! “Let all who hate Zion be put to shame and turn back.” Let them not succeed, says the Prophet, in crafty enterprises, but let them turn to flight, taking up arms against Zion. Ps.129:6. Let them be like grass on the housetops, which dries up before it is plucked up. Ps.129:7. With which the reaper will not fill his hand, nor the binder of sheaves his handful. “Let them be like the grass here, even before the rapture from above”: “Thou shalt not reap with thy hand, nor gather the bosom of thy hand.” In some lists it reads: not before it dries up, but before the rapture, which is what we always see during the harvest. For no one will reap an ear of corn that has moisture in it, but waits until it is ripe and dry, and then applies the sickle. And the grass growing on the roofs, before it bears fruit, dries up from the attack of the sun. The Prophet pleads that the enterprises of the enemies become like this grass, and like it have a premature end. Ps.129:8. And those passing by will not say: “The blessing of the Lord is upon you; We bless you in the name of the Lord!” “And without deciding those who pass by: the blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord.” Anyone who sees abundant fields is usually amazed at the diligence of farmers, and passing by blesses those who reap them. And no one ever said anything like that to those collecting grass on the roofs. You might be interested in: