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.
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.
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.
You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad.
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 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 favourable to them.
4 God, you are my King; command victories for Jacob!
God, you are my King. Command victories for Jacob!
5 Only through you can we repel our enemies; only in your name can we defeat our opponents.
Through you, we will push down our adversaries. Through your name, we will tread down those who rise up against us.
6 I do not trust my bow; I do not have confidence in my sword to save me.
For I will not trust in my bow, neither will my sword save me.
7 You are the one who saves us from our enemies; you defeat those who hate us.
But you have saved us from our adversaries, and have shamed those who hate us.
8 God, we proudly thank you all day long, and praise your name forever. (Selah)
In God we have made our boast all day long. We will give thanks to your name forever. (Selah)
9 But now you have rejected and disgraced us; you no longer accompany our armies.
But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonour, and don’t go out with our armies.
10 You made us run from our enemies, and those who hate us have taken whatever they wanted.
You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take plunder 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 for food, and have scattered us amongst the nations.
12 You have sold your own people for next to nothing, making no profit on the sale.
You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale.
13 You have made a mockery of us before our neighbors, we are ridiculed and laughed at by those around us.
You make us a reproach to our neighbours, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.
14 You have made us a joke to the other nations; they scornfully shake their heads at us.
You make us a byword amongst the nations, a shaking of the head amongst the peoples.
15 We are humiliated all day long; we hold our heads in shame,
All day long my dishonour is before me, and shame covers my face,
16 because of all the insults from the people mocking us, because our vengeful enemies are right in front of us.
at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.
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, yet we haven’t forgotten you. We haven’t been false to your covenant.
18 We have not turned away from you, not in thought, nor in action.
Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path,
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 crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God, or worshiped other gods,
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god,
21 wouldn't God have been aware of this, because he knows everyone's thoughts?
won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
22 But because of you we are killed all day long; we're considered just sheep to be slaughtered.
Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.
23 Lord, wake up! Why are you sleeping? Get up! Don't turn your back on us forever!
Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don’t reject us forever.
24 Why do you look away from us and take no notice of our suffering and misery?
Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression?
25 We lie ruined in the dust, our bodies face down in the dirt.
For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the earth.
26 Stand up! Come and help us! Save us because of your trustworthy love!
Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.
