Psalm 44 – read and compare multiple versions
Psalms 44
[1]
our fathers have told us what work you did in their days,
in the days of old.
[2] You drove out the nations with your hand,
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 themselves.
[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 of the 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.
For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm.
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 out the nations with your hand,
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 themselves.
[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 of the 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.