Psalm 44
Reading edition
For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm.
44:1 We have heard with our ears, God;
our fathers have told us,
what work you did in their days,
in the days of old.
44:2 You drove out the nations with your hand,
but you planted them.
You afflicted the peoples,
but you spread them abroad.
44:3 For they didn't get the land in possession by their own sword,
neither did their own arm save them;
but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your face,
because you were favorable to them.
44:4 You are my King, God.
Command victories for Jacob!
44:5 Through you, will we push down our adversaries.
Through your name, will we tread them under who rise up against us.
44:6 For I will not trust in my bow,
neither shall my sword save me.
44:7 But you have saved us from our adversaries,
and have shamed those who hate us.
44:8 In God we have made our boast all day long,
we will give thanks to your name forever.
Selah.
44:9 But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor,
and don't go out with our armies.
44:10 You make us turn back from the adversary.
Those who hate us take spoil for themselves.
44:11 You have made us like sheep for food,
and have scattered us among the nations.
44:12 You sell your people for nothing,
and have gained nothing from their sale.
44:13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors,
a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.
44:14 You make us a byword among the nations,
a shaking of the head among the peoples.
44:15 All day long my dishonor is before me,
and shame covers my face,
44:16 At the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses,
because of the enemy and the avenger.
44:17 All this has come on us,
yet have we not forgotten you,
Neither have we been false to your covenant.
44:18 Our heart has not turned back,
neither have our steps strayed from your path,
44:19 Though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals,
and covered us with the shadow of death.
44:20 If we have forgotten the name of our God,
or spread forth our hands to a strange god;
44:21 won't God search this out?
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
44:22 Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long.
We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.
44:23 Wake up!
Why do you sleep, Lord?
Arise!
Don't reject us forever.
44:24 Why do you hide your face,
and forget our affliction and our oppression?
44:25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust.
Our body cleaves to the earth.
44:26 Rise up to help us.
Redeem us for your loving kindness' sake.