Psalm 44

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.

1        O God, we with our ears have heard,

                   our fathers have us told,

          What works thou in their days hadst done,

                   ev'n in the days of old.

2        Thy hand did drive the heathen out,

                   and plant them in their place;

          Thou didst afflict the nations,

                   but them thou didst increase.

3        For neither got their sword the land,

                   nor did their arm them save;

          But thy right hand, arm, countenance;

                   for thou them favour gave.

4        Thou art my King: for Jacob, Lord,

                   deliv'rances command.

5        Through thee we shall push down our foes,

                   that do against us stand:

          We, through thy name, shall tread down those

                   that ris'n against us have.

6        For in my bow I shall not trust,

                   nor shall my sword me save.

7        But from our foes thou hast us sav'd,

                   our haters put to shame.

8        In God we all the day do boast,

                   and ever praise thy name.

9        But now we are cast off by thee,

                   and us thou putt'st to shame;

          And when our armies do go forth,

                   thou go'st not with the same.

10      Thou mak'st us from the enemy,

                   fainthearted, to turn back;

          And they who hate us for themselves

                   our spoils away do take.

11      Like sheep for meat thou gavest us;

                   'mong heathen cast we be.

12      Thou didst for nought thy people sell;

                   their price enrich'd not thee.

13      Thou mak'st us a reproach to be

                   unto our neighbours near;

          Derision and a scorn to them

                   that round about us are.

14      A byword also thou dost us

                   among the heathen make;

          The people, in contempt and spite,

                   at us their heads do shake.

15      Before me my confusion

                   continually abides;

          And of my bashful countenance

                   the shame me ever hides:

16      For voice of him that doth reproach,

                   and speaketh blasphemy;

          By reason of th' avenging foe,

                   and cruel enemy.

17      All this is come on us, yet we

                   have not forgotten thee;

          Nor falsely in thy covenant

                   behav'd ourselves have we.

18      Back from thy way our heart not turn'd;

                   our steps no straying made;

19      Though us thou brak'st in dragons' place,

                   and cover'dst with death's shade.

20      If we God's name forgot, or stretch'd

                   to a strange god our hands,

21      Shall not God search this out? for he

                   heart's secrets understands.

22      Yea, for thy sake we're kill'd all day,

                   counted as slaughter-sheep.

23      Rise, Lord, cast us not ever off;

                   awake, why dost thou sleep?

24      O wherefore hidest thou thy face?

                   forgett'st our cause distress'd,

25      And our oppression?  For our soul

                   is to the dust down press'd:

          Our belly also on the earth

                   fast cleaving, hold doth take.

26      Rise for our help, and us redeem,

                   ev'n for thy mercies' sake.