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?
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.