Psalms 129 in the early church

43 passages quote, allude to, or echo Psalms 129, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8

Psalms 129:1

A song of ascents. Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—let Israel now declare—

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Ps 129:1 (128:1 LXX)PG 12:1575 (Ps 117 LXX) · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Ps 129:1 (128:1 LXX)PG 12:1629 (Ps 122–123 LXX) · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Ps 129:1 (128:1 LXX)PG 12:1639 (Ps 127–128 LXX) · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Ps 129:1 (128:1 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.1 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:1 (128:1 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.2 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:1 (128:1 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.5 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:1–8 (128:1-Ps LXX)Psalm 128 · Apollinaris of Laodiceaquotation, high confidenceuncertain (fourth to sixth century)
Ps 129:1–4 (128:1-Ps Vulg.)Part 2, chapter 17 · Quodvultdeus of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 445-450

Psalms 129:2

many a time they have persecuted me from my youth, but they have not prevailed against me.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Ps 129:2 (128:2 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.5 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367

Psalms 129:3

The plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Ps 129:3 (128:3 LXX)PG 12:1639 (Ps 127–128 LXX) · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Ps 129:3 (128:3 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.6 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:3 (128:3 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.7 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:3 (128:3 LXX)Oration 2.38 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
Ps 129:3 (128:3 LXX)On the Blessings of the Patriarchs 17 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-392
Ps 129:3 (128:3 Vulg.)Letters 32.9 · Paulinus of Nolaquotation, high confidenceca. 394–413

Psalms 129:4

The LORD is righteous; He has cut me from the cords of the wicked.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Ps 129:4 (128:4 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.8 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:4 (128:4 LXX)Literal Commentary on Genesis 11.35 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 401–415

Psalms 129:5

May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Ps 129:5 (128:5 LXX)Homilies on Jeremiah 5.5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
Ps 129:5 (128:5 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.9 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367

Psalms 129:6

May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Ps 129:6 (128:6 LXX)PG 12:1639 (Ps 127–128 LXX) · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Ps 129:6–7 (128:6-Ps LXX)Commentary on John 20.22 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 230–248
Ps 129:6 (128:6 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.10 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:6 (128:6 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.13 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:6 (128:6 LXX)Oration 42.4 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
Ps 129:6 (128:6 LXX)Hexameron (Exameron) 3.29 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-390
Ps 129:6 (128:6 LXX)Hexameron (Exameron) 3.30 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-390

Psalms 129:7

unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Ps 129:7 (128:7 LXX)PG 12:1641 (Ps 128–129 LXX) · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Ps 129:7 (128:7 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.10 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:7 (128:7 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.11 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:7–8 (128:7-Ps LXX)Oration 16.5 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
Ps 129:7 (128:7 Vulg.)Letters 23.1 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 394–413

Psalms 129:8

May none who pass by say to them, “The blessing of the LORD be on you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Ps 129:8 (128:8 LXX)PG 12:1641 (Ps 128–129 LXX) · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Ps 129:8 (128:8 LXX)Commentary on John 20.23 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 230–248
Ps 129:8 (128:8 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.10 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:8 (128:8 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.12 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:8 (128:8 Vulg.)Tractates on the Psalms 128.14 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 360–367
Ps 129:8 (128:8 LXX)Oration 42.4 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
Ps 129:8 (128:8 LXX)Letter 78.33 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Ps 129:8 (128:8 LXX)Exposition of Psalm 118 15.6.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Ps 129:8 (128:8 Vulg.)On Fleeing the World 46 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-391
Ps 129:8 (128:8 LXX)Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.61.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397
Ps 129:8 (128:8 LXX)Explanation of Twelve Psalms 61.18.4 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397
Ps 129:8 (128:8 Vulg.)The Conferences 20.9 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429