Psalms 44

Israel’s Complaint

For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.

1 God, we have heard with our ears —

our ancestors have told us —

the work you accomplished in their days,

in days long ago:  * 44:1 Dt 32:7; Ps 78:3

2 In order to plant them,

you displaced the nations by your hand;

in order to settle them,

you brought disaster on the peoples.  * 44:2 2Sm 7:10; Ps 78:55; 80:8

3 For they did not take the land by their sword —

their arm did not bring them victory —

but by your right hand, your arm,

and the light of your face,  * 44:3 Nm 6:25

because you were favorable toward them.  * 44:3 Dt 7:7–8; Ps 77:15; Hs 1:7

4 You are my King, my God,

who ordains  * 44:4 LXX, Syr, Aq; MT reads King, God; ordain victories for Jacob.  * 44:4 Ps 42:8; 74:12

5 Through you we drive back our foes;

through your name we trample our enemies.  * 44:5 Ps 60:12; 108:13; Zch 10:5

6 For I do not trust in my bow,

and my sword does not bring me victory.  * 44:6 1Sm 17:47; Ps 33:16

7 But you give us victory over our foes

and let those who hate us be disgraced.  * 44:7 Ps 35:4; 53:5

8 We boast in God all day long;  * 44:8 Ps 34:2

we will praise your name forever.  * 44:8 Ps 30:12; 34:2Selah

9 But you have rejected and humiliated us;

you do not march out with our armies.  * 44:9 Ps 60:1,10; 74:1; 108:11

10 You make us retreat from the foe,

and those who hate us

have taken plunder for themselves.  * 44:10 Lv 26:17; Dt 28:25; Jos 7:8,12

11 You hand us over to be eaten like sheep

and scatter us among the nations.  * 44:11 Lv 26:33; Dt 4:27; 28:64; Ps 106:27

12 You sell your people for nothing;

you make no profit from selling them.  * 44:12 Dt 32:30; Jdg 2:14; 3:8; Is 52:3–4

13 You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors,

a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.  * 44:13 Dt 28:37; Ps 79:4

14 You make us a joke among the nations,

a laughingstock  * 44:14 Lit shaking of the head among the peoples.  * 44:14 Jb 17:6; Ps 109:25; Jr 24:9

15 My disgrace is before me all day long,

and shame has covered my face,  * 44:15 2Ch 32:21; Ps 69:7

16 because of the taunts  * 44:16 Lit voice of the scorner and reviler,

because of the enemy and avenger.  * 44:16 Ps 8:2; 74:10

17 All this has happened to us,

but we have not forgotten you

or betrayed your covenant.  * 44:17 Ps 119:61,153

18 Our hearts have not turned back;

our steps have not strayed from your path.  * 44:18 Jb 23:11; Ps 37:31; 119:51,157

19 But you have crushed us in a haunt of jackals

and have covered us with deepest darkness.  * 44:19 Jb 30:29; Jr 9:11

20 If we had forgotten the name of our God

and spread out our hands to a foreign god,  * 44:20 Dt 6:14; Jb 11:13

21 wouldn’t God have found this out,

since he knows the secrets of the heart?  * 44:21 Ps 139:1–2; Jr 17:10; Heb 4:13

22 Because of you we are being put to death all day long;

we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.  * 44:22 Is 53:7; Jr 12:3; Rm 8:36

23 Wake up, Lord! Why are you sleeping?

Get up! Don’t reject us forever!  * 44:23 Ps 7:6; 35:23; 78:65

24 Why do you hide

and forget our affliction and oppression?  * 44:24 Jb 13:24; Ps 88:14

25 For we have sunk down to the dust;

our bodies cling to the ground.  * 44:25 Ps 119:25

26 Rise up! Help us!

Redeem us because of your faithful love.  * 44:26 Ps 25:22