Psalms

For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm.

1We have heard with our ears, God;our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, in the days of old.

2You drove out the nations with your hand,but you planted them.You afflicted the peoples,but you spread them abroad.

3For 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.

4God, you are my King.Command victories for Jacob!

5Through you, we will push down our adversaries.Through your name, we will tread down those who rise up against us.

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

7But you have saved us from our adversaries,and have shamed those who hate us.

8In God we have made our boast all day long.We will give thanks to your name forever. Selah.

9But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor,and don’t go out with our armies.

10You make us turn back from the adversary.Those who hate us take plunder for themselves.

11You have made us like sheep for food,and have scattered us among the nations.

12You sell your people for nothing,and have gained nothing from their sale.

13You make us a reproach to our neighbors,a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.

14You make us a byword among the nations,a shaking of the head among the peoples.

15All day long my dishonor is before me,and shame covers my face,

16at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.

17All this has come on us,yet we haven’t forgotten you. We haven’t been false to your covenant.

18Our heart has not turned back,neither have our steps strayed from your path,

19though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death.

20If we have forgotten the name of our God,or spread out our hands to a strange god,

21won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

22Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long.We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.

23Wake up!Why do you sleep, Lord?Arise!Don’t reject us forever.

24Why do you hide your face,and forget our affliction and our oppression?

25For our soul is bowed down to the dust.Our body clings to the earth.

26Rise up to help us.Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.

1To the Overseer. — By sons of Korah. An Instruction. O God, with our ears we have heard, Our fathers have recounted to us, The work Thou didst work in their days, In the days of old.

2Thou, [with] Thy hand, nations hast dispossessed. And Thou dost plant them. Thou afflictest peoples, and sendest them away.

3For, not by their sword Possessed they the land, And their arm gave not salvation to them, But Thy right hand, and Thine arm, And the light of Thy countenance, Because Thou hadst accepted them.

4Thou [art] He, my king, O God, Command the deliverances of Jacob.

5By Thee our adversaries we do push, By Thy name tread down our withstanders,

6For, not in my bow do I trust, And my sword doth not save me.

7For Thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And those hating us Thou hast put to shame.

8In God we have boasted all the day, And Thy name to the age we thank. Selah.

9In anger Thou hast cast off and causest us to blush, And goest not forth with our hosts.

10Thou causest us to turn backward from an adversary, And those hating us, Have spoiled for themselves.

11Thou makest us food like sheep, And among nations Thou hast scattered us.

12Thou sellest Thy people — without wealth, And hast not become great by their price.

13Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, A scorn and a reproach to our surrounders.

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

15All the day my confusion [is] before me, And the shame of my face hath covered me.

16Because of the voice of a reproacher and reviler, Because of an enemy and a self-avenger.

17All this met us, and we did not forget Thee, Nor have we dealt falsely in Thy covenant.

18We turn not backward our heart, Nor turn aside doth our step from Thy path.

19But Thou hast smitten us in a place of dragons, And dost cover us over with death-shade.

20If we have forgotten the name of our God, And spread our hands to a strange God,

21Doth not God search out this? For He knoweth the secrets of the heart.

22Surely, for Thy sake we have been slain all the day, Reckoned as sheep of the slaughter.

23Stir up — why dost Thou sleep, O Lord? Awake, cast us not off for ever.

24Why Thy face hidest Thou? Thou forgettest our afflictions and our oppression,

25For bowed to the dust hath our soul, Cleaved to the earth hath our belly.

26Arise, a help to us, And ransom us for thy kindness' sake.