Psalm 44

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah

1-3 We've been hearing about this, God, all our lives. Our fathers told us the stories their fathers told them, How single-handedly you weeded out the godless from the fields and planted us, How you sent those people packing but gave us a fresh start. We didn't fight for this land; we didn't work for it—it was a gift! You gave it, smiling as you gave it, delighting as you gave it.
4-8 You're my King, O God— command victories for Jacob! With your help we'll wipe out our enemies, in your name we'll stomp them to dust. I don't trust in weapons; my sword won't save me— But it's you, you who saved us from the enemy; you made those who hate us lose face. All day we parade God's praise— we thank you by name over and over.
9-12 But now you've walked off and left us, you've disgraced us and won't fight for us. You made us turn tail and run; those who hate us have cleaned us out. You delivered us as sheep to the butcher, you scattered us to the four winds. You sold your people at a discount— you made nothing on the sale.
13-16 You made people on the street, urchins, poke fun and call us names. You made us a joke among the godless, a cheap joke among the rabble. Every day I'm up against it, my nose rubbed in my shame— Gossip and ridicule fill the air, people out to get me crowd the street.
17-19 All this came down on us, and we've done nothing to deserve it. We never betrayed your Covenant: our hearts were never false, our feet never left your path. Do we deserve torture in a den of jackals? or lockup in a black hole?
20-22 If we had forgotten to pray to our God or made fools of ourselves with store-bought gods, Wouldn't God have figured this out? We can't hide things from him. No, you decided to make us martyrs, lambs assigned for sacrifice each day.
23-26 Get up, God! Are you going to sleep all day? Wake up! Don't you care what happens to us? Why do you bury your face in the pillow? Why pretend things are just fine with us? And here we are—flat on our faces in the dirt, held down with a boot on our necks. Get up and come to our rescue. If you love us so much, Help us!

Psalm 44

1 We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, What work thou didst in their days, In the days of old.

2 Thou didst drive out the nations with thy hand; But them thou didst plant: Thou didst afflict the peoples; But them thou didst spread abroad.

3 For they gat not the land in possession by their own sword, Neither did their own arm save them; But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, Because thou wast favorable unto them.

4 Thou art my King, O God: Command deliverance for Jacob.

5 Through thee will we push down our adversaries: Through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

6 For I will not trust in my bow, Neither shall my sword save me.

7 But thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And hast put them to shame that hate us.

8 In God have we made our boast all the day long, And we will give thanks unto thy name for ever. Selah

9 But now thou hast cast us off, and brought us to dishonor, And goest not forth with our hosts.

10 Thou makest us to turn back from the adversary; And they that hate us take spoil for themselves.

11 Thou hast made us like sheep appointed for food, And hast scattered us among the nations.

12 Thou sellest thy people for nought, And hast not increased thy wealth by their price.

13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to them that are round about us.

14 Thou makest us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples.

15 All the day long is my dishonor before me, And the shame of my face hath covered me,

16 For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth, By reason of the enemy and the avenger.

17 All this is come upon us; Yet have we not forgotten thee, Neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

18 Our heart is not turned back, Neither have our steps declined from thy way,

19 That thou hast sore broken us in the place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death.

20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, Or spread forth our hands to a strange god;

21 Will not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? Arise, cast us not off for ever.

24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: Our body cleaveth unto the earth.

26 Rise up for our help, And redeem us for thy lovingkindness’ sake.