Psalms 44
Psalms 44
For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm.
We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, in the days of old. Verse 2. You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad. Verse 3. For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them. Verse 4. God, you are my King. Command victories for Jacob! Verse 5. Through you, we will push down our adversaries. Through your name, we will tread down those who rise up against us. Verse 6. For I will not trust in my bow, neither will my sword save me. Verse 7. But you have saved us from our adversaries, and have shamed those who hate us. Verse 8. In God we have made our boast all day long. We will give thanks to your name forever. Selah. Verse 9. But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor, and don’t go out with our armies. Verse 10. You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take plunder for themselves. Verse 11. You have made us like sheep for food, and have scattered us among the nations. Verse 12. You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale. Verse 13. You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us. Verse 14. You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples. Verse 15. All day long my dishonor is before me, and shame covers my face, Verse 16. at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger. Verse 17. All this has come on us, yet we haven’t forgotten you. We haven’t been false to your covenant. Verse 18. Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path, Verse 19. though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death. Verse 20. If we have forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god, Verse 21. won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart. Verse 22. Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter. Verse 23. Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don’t reject us forever. Verse 24. Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression? Verse 25. For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the earth. Verse 26. Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.