A song of ascents: Many times from my youth they have oppressed me, let Israel declare now. Many times from my youth they have oppressed me; yet they have not prevailed against me. Upon my back the plowers plowed, they made their furrows long. The Lord is righteous; he has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.
This is like a parable of a homeowner who had a heifer that he loaned to another man to plow with. The man had ten sons who all came and plowed with the heifer, causing it to become tired and lie down. All the other heifers returned except for that one. The homeowner did not have time to negotiate with the man and instead immediately broke the yoke and cut the cords.
This is the situation of Israel in this world: the nations come and oppress them, and their response is delayed, as it says "Upon my back the plowers plowed, they made their furrows long." But when the end comes, God will not say to the nations, "You have done thus and so to my children," but will immediately come and break the yoke and cut the cords, as it says "I will break the pride of your power" (Leviticus 26:19), and also "The Lord is righteous; he has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked."
Rabbi Chanina bar Papa and Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani passed by a plowed field during the shmita year. Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani said to the owner of the field, "May it be straight (i.e. upright) for you." Rabbi Chanina bar Papa disagreed and said, "That's not the way the school of Rabbi taught us, and they did not say to the plowmen, 'May the blessing of the Lord be upon you.'" It is forbidden to say "may it be straight" to the plowmen during the shmita year.
Rabbi Chanina bar Papa told him, "You may read (the Scriptures), but you may not interpret." And they did not say "the plowmen" were the gentiles who pass from the world, nor did they say to Israel, "May the blessing of the Lord be upon you." Instead, Israel says to them, "Bless us in the name of the Lord." And Israel says to them, "It is not enough that you receive all the good things that come upon you because of us, but you also roll upon us fines, taxes, and exactions."
Finally, as much as you punish us, we will turn you into gold, as it says, "Instead of bronze, I will bring gold." (Isaiah 60:17)