Chapter 44

To the chief Musician¹⁸ for the sons of Korah, Maschil.
^{7919 56} We have heard¹ with our ears, O God, our fathers have told¹⁴ us, [what] work thou didst¹ in their days, in the times of old.

[How] thou didst drive out⁵² the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst⁴ them; [how] thou didst afflict⁵⁵ the people, and cast them out.¹⁷

For they got not the land in possession¹ by their own sword, neither did their own arm save⁵² them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour¹ unto them.

Thou art my King, O God: command¹⁶ deliverances for Jacob.

Through thee will we push down¹⁷ our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under⁴ that rise up⁵ against us.

For I will not trust⁴ in my bow, neither shall my sword save⁵⁵ me.

But thou hast saved⁵² us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame⁵² that hated¹⁸ us.

In God we boast¹⁴ all the day long, and praise⁵⁵ thy name for ever. Selah.

But thou hast cast off,¹ and put us to shame;⁵⁵ and goest not forth⁴ with our armies.

Thou makest us to turn⁵⁵ back from the enemy: and they which hate¹⁸ us spoil¹ for themselves.

Thou hast given⁴ us like sheep [appointed] for meat; and hast scattered¹⁴ us among the heathen.

Thou sellest⁴ thy people for nought, and dost not increase¹⁴ [thy wealth] by their price.

Thou makest⁴ us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.

Thou makest⁴ us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.

My confusion [is] continually ³¹¹⁷ before me, and the shame of my face hath covered¹⁴ me,

For the voice of him that reproacheth¹⁸ and blasphemeth;¹⁸ by reason of the enemy⁶ and avenger.¹⁰²

All this is come upon us;¹ yet have we not forgotten¹ thee, neither have we dealt falsely¹⁴ in thy covenant.

Our heart is not turned⁸ back, neither have our steps declined⁴ from thy way;

Though thou hast sore broken¹⁴ us in the place of dragons, and covered¹⁷ us with the shadow of death.

If we have forgotten¹ the name of our God, or stretched out⁴ our hands to a strange⁵ god;

Shall not God search this out?⁴ for he knoweth⁶ the secrets of the heart.

Yea, for thy sake are we killed²⁷ all the day long; we are counted⁸ as sheep for the slaughter.

Awake,³ why sleepest⁴ thou, O Lord? arise,⁵⁴ cast [us] not off⁴ for ever.

Wherefore hidest⁵⁵ thou thy face, [and] forgettest⁴ our affliction and our oppression?

For our soul is bowed down¹ to the dust: our belly cleaveth¹ unto the earth.

Arise³ for our help, and redeem³ us for thy mercies' sake.