Psalm 44

For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm.

¹ We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, in the days of old.

² You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad.

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.

⁴ God, you are my King. Command victories for Jacob!

⁵ Through you, we will push down our adversaries. Through your name, we will tread down those who rise up against us.

⁶ For I will not trust in my bow, neither will my sword save me.

⁷ But you have saved us from our adversaries, and have shamed those who hate us.

⁸ In God we have made our boast all day long. We will give thanks to your name forever. Selah.

⁹ But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor, and don’t go out with our armies.

¹⁰ You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take plunder for themselves.

¹¹ You have made us like sheep for food, and have scattered us among the nations.

¹² You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale.

¹³ You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.

¹⁴ You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples.

¹⁵ All day long my dishonor is before me, and shame covers my face,

¹⁶ at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.

¹⁷ All this has come on us, yet we haven’t forgotten you. We haven’t been false to your covenant.

¹⁸ Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path,

¹⁹ though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death.

²⁰ If we have forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god,

²¹ won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

²² Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.

²³ Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord?¹ Arise! Don’t reject us forever.

²⁴ Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression?

²⁵ For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the earth.

²⁶ Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.