Psalms 44
1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days, in the times of old.
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.
2 How you did drive out the heathen with your hand, and planted them; how you did afflict the people, and cast them out.
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.
3 For they got not 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 countenance, because you had a favour unto them.
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.
4 You are my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
God, you are my King; command victories for Jacob!
5 Through you will we push down our enemies: through your name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
Only through you can we repel our enemies; only in your name can we defeat our opponents.
6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
I do not trust my bow; I do not have confidence in my sword to save me.
7 But you have saved us from our enemies, and have put them to shame that hated us.
You are the one who saves us from our enemies; you defeat those who hate us.
8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise your name for ever. (Selah)
God, we proudly thank you all day long, and praise your name forever. (Selah)
9 But you have cast off, and put us to shame; and go not forth with our armies.
But now you have rejected and disgraced us; you no longer accompany our armies.
10 You make us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
You made us run from our enemies, and those who hate us have taken whatever they wanted.
11 You have given us like sheep appointed for food; and have scattered us among the heathen.
You have handed us over like sheep to be slaughtered; you have scattered us among the other nations.
12 You sell your people for nothing, and do not increase your wealth by their price.
You have sold your own people for next to nothing, making no profit on the sale.
13 You make us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
You have made a mockery of us before our neighbors, we are ridiculed and laughed at by those around us.
14 You make us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
You have made us a joke to the other nations; they scornfully shake their heads at us.
15 My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face has covered me,
We are humiliated all day long; we hold our heads in shame,
16 For the voice of him that reproaches and blasphemes; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
because of all the insults from the people mocking us, because our vengeful enemies are right in front of us.
17 All this has come upon us; yet have we not forgotten you, neither have we dealt falsely in your covenant.
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.
18 Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from your way;
We have not turned away from you, not in thought, nor in action.
19 Though you have sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
Even so, you crushed us, and made us into a jackal's den. You have covered us with the darkness of death.
20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
If we had forgotten the name of our God, or worshiped other gods,
21 Shall not God search this out? for he knows the secrets of the heart.
wouldn't God have been aware of this, because he knows everyone's thoughts?
22 Yea, for your sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
But because of you we are killed all day long; we're considered just sheep to be slaughtered.
23 Awake, why sleep you, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
Lord, wake up! Why are you sleeping? Get up! Don't turn your back on us forever!
24 Wherefore hide you your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression?
Why do you look away from us and take no notice of our suffering and misery?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaves unto the earth.
We lie ruined in the dust, our bodies face down in the dirt.
26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for your mercies' sake.
Stand up! Come and help us! Save us because of your trustworthy love!
