Psalms 44
1 God, we ourselves have heard what our parents and grandparents told us. They told us about the miracles that you performed 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 [They told us] how you expelled the ungodly people and enabled us to live in their land. [They told us] that you punished those ungodly people and enabled your own people to prosper [IDM].
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 It was not by using their own swords that they conquered the people that lived in that land, and it was not by their own power that they were victorious; it was only by your power [MTY, DOU] [that they did those things]; and they were sure that you were with them, and that showed that you were pleased with 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 You are my King and my God; it is you who enable us, your people [MTY], to defeat our enemies.
You are my King and my God; ordering salvation for Jacob.
5 It is by your power that we knock our enemies down and tramp on them.
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 that I will be saved by using my bow [and arrows] and my sword.
I will not put faith in my bow, my sword will not be my salvation.
7 No, it is you who have rescued us from our enemies, it is you who have caused those who hate us to become ashamed [because they were defeated].
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 We have continually boasted about what God [has done for us], and we will thank him [MTY] forever.
Our pride is in God at all times, to his name we give praise for ever. (Selah)
9 But [now] you have rejected us and caused us to be disgraced; when our armies march out [to fight a battle], you no [longer] go with them.
But now you have sent us away from you, and put us to shame; you do not go out with our armies.
10 You have caused us to run away from our enemies, with the result that they captured the things that belonged to us.
Because of this we are turned back by the attacker: those who have hate for us take our goods for themselves.
11 You have allowed us to become like [MET] sheep that were ready to be slaughtered; you scattered us [far away] among [other].
You have made us like sheep which are taken for meat; we are put to flight among the nations.
12 [It is as though] [MET] you sold us, your people, [to our enemies] for a very small price, and you did not gain much profit from selling us!
You let your people go for nothing; your wealth is not increased by their price.
13 People who live in nations near us make fun of us; they laugh at us and deride/belittle 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 They make jokes using the name of [our country], they shake their heads [to indicate that they despise us].
Our name is a word of shame among the nations, a sign for the shaking of heads among the peoples.
15 All day I feel disgraced; from seeing my face, people know that I am ashamed.
My downfall is ever before me, and I am covered with the shame of my face;
16 I hear what those who sneer at me and revile me say; I am ashamed in front of my enemies and those who want to harm me.
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 these things have happened to us [even] though we have not forgotten you, and we are not the ones who disobeyed the agreement you made with [our ancestors].
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 stopped being loyal to you, and we have not stopped doing what you want us to do [IDM].
Our hearts have not gone back, and our steps have not been turned out of your way;
19 But [it is as though] you have allowed us to be helpless among wild animals, and abandoned us in a deep dark [ravine].
Though you have let us be crushed in the place of jackals, though we are covered with darkest shade.
20 If we had forgotten to worship [MTY] our God, or if we had spread out our hands to [worship] a foreign god,
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 you certainly would have known that, because you know [even] what we secretly think.
Will not God make search for it? for he sees the secrets of the heart.
22 But it is because we belong to you, [that our enemies] are constantly killing us. They act toward us as though we were only sheep to be slaughtered.
Truly, because of you we are put to death every day; we are numbered like sheep for destruction.
23 [So], Yahweh, arise! Why are you asleep [RHQ]? Get up! Do not reject us forever!
Why are you sleeping, O Lord? awake! and come to our help, do not give us up for ever.
24 Why are you not looking at us? Why are you forgetting that we are suffering and being oppressed [by our enemies]?
Why is your face covered, and why do you give no thought to our trouble and our cruel fate?
25 We are pushed down to the ground and we cannot get up.
For our souls are crushed down to the dust: our bodies are stretched out on the earth.
26 Arise, and come and help us! Rescue us because you faithfully love us!
Up! and come to our help, and give us salvation because of your mercy.
