The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Psalms 044
For the Chief Musician. By the sons of
Korah. A contemplative psalm.
1 We have heard with our ears, God;
our fathers have told us what work
you did in their days, in the days of old.
2 You drove outthenations withyourhand,
but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples,
but you spread them abroad.
3 For they didn’t get the land in possession
by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them;
but your right hand, your arm, and the
light of your face, because you were favorable to them.
4 God, you are my King.
Command victories for Jacob!
5 Through you, we will push down our
adversaries. Through your name, we will tread
down those who rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow,
neither will my sword save me.
7 But you have saved us from our adversaries,
and have shamed those who hate us.
8 In God we have made our boast all day
long. We will give thanks to your name forever.
Selah.
9 But now you rejected us, and brought us
to dishonor, and don’t go out with our armies.
10 You make us turn back from the adversary.
Those who hate us take plunder for them selves.
11 You have made us like sheep for food,
and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You sell your people for nothing,
and have gained nothing from their
sale.
13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors,
a scoffing and a derision to those who
are around us.
14 You make us a byword among the nations,
a shaking of the head among the peoples.
15 All day long my dishonor is before me,
and shame covers my face,
16 at the taunt of one who reproaches
and verbally abuses, because ofthe
enemy and the avenger.
17 All this has come on us,
yet we haven’t forgotten you.
We haven’t been false to your
covenant.
18 Our heart has not turned back,
neither have our steps strayed from
your path,
19 though you have crushed us in the
haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of
death.
20 If we have forgotten the name of our
God, or spread out our hands to a strange
god,
21 won’t God search this out?
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
22 Yes, for your sake we are killed all day
long. We are regarded as sheep for the
slaughter.
23 Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord?†
Arise! Don’t reject us forever.
24 Why do you hide your face,
and forget our affliction and our oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust.
Our body clings to the earth.
26 Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness’
sake.