Psalm 44

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Psalm 44 – New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 44[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[b]

  1. We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.
  2. With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.
  3. It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.
  4. You are my King and my God, who decrees[c] victories for Jacob.
  5. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.
  6. I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;
  7. but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.
  8. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.[d]
  9. But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies.
  10. You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us.
  11. You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.
  12. You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale.
  13. You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us.
  14. You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.
  15. I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame
  16. at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.
  17. All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten you; we had not been false to your covenant.
  18. Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path.
  19. But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals; you covered us over with deep darkness.
  20. If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
  21. would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?
  22. Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
  23. Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
  24. Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?
  25. We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.
  26. Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.

Footnotes

a. Psalm 44:1 In Hebrew texts 44:1-26 is numbered 44:2-27.
b. Psalm 44:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
c. Psalm 44:4 Septuagint, Aquila and Syriac; Hebrew King, O God; / command
d. Psalm 44:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

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Psalm 44 – King James Version (KJV)

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

  1. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, What work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
  2. How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; How thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
  3. For they got 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 hadst a favour unto them.
  4. Thou art my King, O God: Command deliverances for Jacob.
  5. Through thee will we push down our enemies: 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 enemies, And hast put them to shame that hated us.
  8. In God we boast all the day long, And praise thy name for ever. Selah.
  9. But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; And goest not forth with our armies.
  10. Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: And they which hate us spoil for themselves.
  11. Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; And hast scattered us among the heathen.
  12. Thou sellest thy people for nought, And dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
  13. Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, A scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
  14. Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, A shaking of the head among the people.
  15. My confusion is continually 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 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. Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, And covered us with the shadow of death.
  20. If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
  21. Shall 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 counted 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 belly cleaveth unto the earth.
  26. Arise for our help, And redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.