The Role of Space in the twl[mh 469 yryv prayer: “May YHWH bless you from Zion” (5a). Only he can grant “prosperity” (5b) and a long life (6a). The poem ends with the same exclamation as in Ps 125,5c: “Peace be upon Israel” (6b). Psalm 128 ends where Psalm 126 started: in public space, with YHWH as the only source of blessing and prosperity, both for his people at large and for each of its individual members. The third triad of poems describe the experiences of individuals going about their daily business of sowing and reaping (Psalm 126), working and raising families (Psalm 127), and expecting the fruit of their labour (Psalm 128). This experience and expectation is set in the context of the trials and tribulations of Zion (Psalm 126,1-3; Psalm 128,5-6). These three poems describe a life at-centre, in the presence of Yahweh. It is emphasised by the chiastic relationship between Psalm 126 and 128. The poems illustrate the truth expressed in Ps 125,1-2 – YHWH surrounds his people! Psalm 129 picks up the theme of Psalm 125, emphasised by the fact that these are the only poems in the collection where the roots [vr (125,3a; 129,4b) and qdx (125,3bc; 129,4a) occur. The focus moves to public space. The poem describes the physical experience of Israel during the course of her history, an experience of being “oppressed” (1a, 2a). For far too long Israel has been the victim of scorn and humiliation, metaphorically described in agricultural terms in 3ab: “Upon my back ploughmen have ploughed, they have made their furrows long”. However, the presence of Yahweh prevented the utter destruction of the people (4ab). Therefore the petitioner can implore Yahweh to put those “who hate Zion” (5b) to “shame” (5a) (51). It is his prayer that such people should never experience the blessing of Yahweh (8abc) (52). Psalm 130 turns to the emotional experience of being estranged from Yahweh. It amounts to no less than being in the “depths”, in the clutches of lwav (1a) (53). Psalm 130 plunges into the Depth, a theme also present in Psalm 124 (54). The experience of being off-centre, far (51) HUNTER, Psalms, 217 points to the contrast between vv. 4ab and 5ab. “YHWH is righteous” (4a) stands in contrast to “all who hate Zion” (5b) and YHWH’s positive action towards the righteous “he cuts the cords of the wicked” (4b) in contrast to the wish “may they be turned back in shame” (5a). (52) HUNTER, Psalms, 216 emphasises the agricultural background of this psalm. He emphasises that the closing blessing in verse 8abc should be under- stood as a blessing exchanged between two parties such as described in Ru 2,4. (53) KRAUS, Psalms, 467; HUNTER, Psalms, 218; ZENGER, “Zion als Ort”, 107. (54) MITCHELL, Message, 122.