Bellarmine on Psalm 128: Verses 1 & 2

Verse 1

Often have they fought against me from my youth, let Israel now say.

Saepe expugnaverunt me a juventute mea, dicat nunc Israel;

Although they find themselves in trouble, God’s people are consoled because they are now used to such anxieties and they have in the past always been delivered from them through God’s assistance. These words apply to the Jewish people who, while they are rebuilding the city and the temple, are attacked by neighbouring peoples; the words also apply to the Christ's Church, which has scarcely ever been able to draw breath amidst the attacks of pagans, heretics and false Christians. He therefore says: “Often have they fought against me from my youth, let Israel now say,” that is, God’s people, called Israel,[1] should not be surprised if they are attacked by enemies, for they are suffering nothing new but something that calls to mind past troubles, and the Prophet goes on: “Often have my enemies fought against me” right from my earliest age; for the Church being scarcely born, Abel suffered from Cain’s persecution, and from that time onwards the Church has very frequently suffered similar things. Concerning the choice of words, one thing alone is to be noted, the wording expugnaverunt / they have fought is used instead of oppugnaverunt / they have attacked; the Greek word means bellaverunt / they have waged war, and from the next verse it may be gathered that the enemy did not prevail; hence they fought but did not win, they waged war but did  not conquer.

[1] From the Hebrew name יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) meaning "God contends", from the roots שָׂרָה (sarah) meaning "to contend, to fight" and אֵל ('el) meaning "God". In the Old Testament, Israel (who was formerly named Jacob; see Genesis 32:28) wrestles with an angel. 

Verse 2

Often have they fought against me from my youth: but they could not prevail over me.

saepe expugnaverunt me a juventute mea; etenim non potuerunt mihi.

He gives a reason why their enemies frequently launched attacks and battles; and he says the cause was the fact that they could never prevail : for if they had once prevailed and had completely destroyed God’s people, there would have been no need for so many wars so many times renewed. What is here asserted is most true, and the history of the Church is testimony of it. The phrase they could not prevail over me, is either written instead of they could not in me (prevail), or they could not to me do harm, or prevail over me.  

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.