Psalms 44
1 For the music director. A psalm (maskil) of the sons of Korah. God, we have heard with our own ears—our forefathers have told us—all you did in their times, long ago.
To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah Maschil. It has come to our ears, O God, our fathers have given us the story, of the works which you did in their days, in the old times,
2 Through your power you drove out the other nations so you could settle our ancestors there; you defeated the nations and you sent our ancestors to occupy the land.
Uprooting the nations with your hand, and planting our fathers in their place; cutting down the nations, but increasing the growth of your people.
3 They did not conquer the land using their swords; it was not through their own strength that the victory was won—it was by your strength, your power, and your presence with them, because you loved them.
For they did not make the land theirs by their swords, and it was not their arms which kept them safe; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your face, because you had pleasure in them.
4 God, you are my King; command victories for Jacob!
You are my King and my God; ordering salvation for Jacob.
5 Only through you can we repel our enemies; only in your name can we defeat our opponents.
Through you will we overcome our haters; by your name will they be crushed under our feet who are violent against us.
6 I do not trust my bow; I do not have confidence in my sword to save me.
I will not put faith in my bow, my sword will not be my salvation.
7 You are the one who saves us from our enemies; you defeat those who hate us.
But it is you who have been our saviour from those who were against us, and have put to shame those who had hate for us.
8 God, we proudly thank you all day long, and praise your name forever. (Selah)
Our pride is in God at all times, to his name we give praise for ever. (Selah)
9 But now you have rejected and disgraced us; you no longer accompany our armies.
But now you have sent us away from you, and put us to shame; you do not go out with our armies.
10 You made us run from our enemies, and those who hate us have taken whatever they wanted.
Because of this we are turned back by the attacker: those who have hate for us take our goods for themselves.
11 You have handed us over like sheep to be slaughtered; you have scattered us among the other nations.
You have made us like sheep which are taken for meat; we are put to flight among the nations.
12 You have sold your own people for next to nothing, making no profit on the sale.
You let your people go for nothing; your wealth is not increased by their price.
13 You have made a mockery of us before our neighbors, we are ridiculed and laughed at by those around us.
You have made us to be looked down on by our neighbours, we are laughed at and shamed by those who are round about us.
14 You have made us a joke to the other nations; they scornfully shake their heads at us.
Our name is a word of shame among the nations, a sign for the shaking of heads among the peoples.
15 We are humiliated all day long; we hold our heads in shame,
My downfall is ever before me, and I am covered with the shame of my face;
16 because of all the insults from the people mocking us, because our vengeful enemies are right in front of us.
Because of the voice of him who says sharp and bitter words; because of the hater and him who is the instrument of punishment.
17 All this has happened to us even though we didn't forget you; we haven't been unfaithful to the promises we made to you.
All this has come on us, but still we have kept you in our memory; and we have not been false to your word.
18 We have not turned away from you, not in thought, nor in action.
Our hearts have not gone back, and our steps have not been turned out of your way;
19 Even so, you crushed us, and made us into a jackal's den. You have covered us with the darkness of death.
Though you have let us be crushed in the place of jackals, though we are covered with darkest shade.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God, or worshiped other gods,
If the name of our God has gone out of our minds, or if our hands have been stretched out to a strange god,
21 wouldn't God have been aware of this, because he knows everyone's thoughts?
Will not God make search for it? for he sees the secrets of the heart.
22 But because of you we are killed all day long; we're considered just sheep to be slaughtered.
Truly, because of you we are put to death every day; we are numbered like sheep for destruction.
23 Lord, wake up! Why are you sleeping? Get up! Don't turn your back on us forever!
Why are you sleeping, O Lord? awake! and come to our help, do not give us up for ever.
24 Why do you look away from us and take no notice of our suffering and misery?
Why is your face covered, and why do you give no thought to our trouble and our cruel fate?
25 We lie ruined in the dust, our bodies face down in the dirt.
For our souls are crushed down to the dust: our bodies are stretched out on the earth.
26 Stand up! Come and help us! Save us because of your trustworthy love!
Up! and come to our help, and give us salvation because of your mercy.
