1 Our God, our ancestors told us

what wonders you worked

and we listened carefully.

2 You chased off the nations

by causing them trouble

with your powerful arm.

Then you let our ancestors

take over their land.

3 Their strength and weapons

were not what won the land

and gave them victory!

You loved them and fought

with your powerful arm

and your shining glory.

4 You are my God and King,

and you give victory*

to the people of Jacob.

5 By your great power,

we knocked our enemies down

and trampled on them.

6 I don't depend on my arrows

or my sword to save me.

7 But you saved us

from our hateful enemies,

and you put them to shame.

8 We boast about you, our God,

and we are always grateful.

9 But now you have rejected us;

you don't lead us into battle,

and we look foolish.

10 You made us retreat,

and our enemies have taken

everything we own.

11 You let us be slaughtered

like sheep,

and you scattered us

among the nations.

12 You sold your people

for little or nothing,

and you earned no profit.

13 You made us look foolish

to our neighbors;

people who live nearby

insult us and sneer.

14 Foreigners joke about us

and shake their heads.

15 I am embarrassed every day,

and I blush with shame.

16 But others mock and sneer,

as they watch my enemies

take revenge on me.

17 All this happened to us,

though we didn't forget you

or break our agreement.

18 We always kept you in mind

and followed your teaching.

19 But you crushed us,

and you covered us

with deepest darkness

where wild animals live.

20 We did not forget you

or lift our hands in prayer

to foreign gods.

21 You would have known it

because you discover

every secret thought.

22 * We face death all day for you.

We are like sheep on their way

to be slaughtered.

23 Wake up! Do something, Lord!

Why are you sleeping?

Don't desert us forever.

24 Why do you keep looking away?

Don't forget our sufferings

and all our troubles.

25 We are flat on the ground,

holding on to the dust.

26 Do something! Help us!

Show how kind you are

and come to our rescue.