Psalms 44
Psalm 44
Israel’s Complaint
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
1God, we have heard with our ears — our ancestors have told us — the work you accomplished in their days, in days long ago:23In order to plant them, you displaced the nations by your hand; in order to settle them, you brought disaster on the peoples.4
5For they did not take the land by their sword — their arm did not bring them victory — but by your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable toward them.6
7You are my King, my God, who ordains victories for Jacob.8
9Through you we drive back our foes; through your name we trample our enemies.10
11For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword does not bring me victory.12
13But you give us victory over our foes and let those who hate us be disgraced.14
15We boast in God all day long; we will praise your name forever.Selah16
17But you have rejected and humiliated us; you do not march out with our armies.18
19You make us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have taken plunder for themselves.20
21You hand us over to be eaten like sheep and scatter us among the nations.22
23You sell your people for nothing; you make no profit from selling them.24
25You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors, a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.26
27You make us a joke among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.28
29My disgrace is before me all day long, and shame has covered my face,30
31because of the taunts of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy and avenger.32
33All this has happened to us, but we have not forgotten you or betrayed your covenant.34
35Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from your path.36
37But you have crushed us in a haunt of jackals and have covered us with deepest darkness.38
39If we had forgotten the name of our God and spread out our hands to a foreign god,40
41wouldn’t God have found this out, since he knows the secrets of the heart?42
43Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.44
45Wake up, Lord! Why are you sleeping? Get up! Don’t reject us forever!46
47Why do you hide and forget our affliction and oppression?48
49For we have sunk down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.50
51Rise up! Help us! Redeem us because of your faithful love.52