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.

For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.

1We have heard with our ears, O God;our fathers have told usthe work You did in their days,in the days of old.

2With Your hand You drove out the nationsand planted our fathers there;You crushed the peoplesand cast them out.

3For it was not by their sword that they took the land;their arm did not bring them victory.It was by Your right hand,Your arm, and the light of Your face, because You favored them.

4You are my King, O God,who ordains victories for Jacob.

5Through You we repel our foes;through Your name we trample our enemies.

6For I do not trust in my bow,nor does my sword save me.

7For You save us from our enemies;You put those who hate us to shame.

8In God we have boasted all day long,and Your name we will praise forever.Selah

9But You have rejected and humbled us;You no longer go forth with our armies.

10You have made us retreat from the foe,and those who hate us have plundered us.

11You have given us up as sheep to be devoured;You have scattered us among the nations.

12You sell Your people for nothing;no profit do You gain from their sale.

13You have made us a reproach to our neighbors,a mockery and derision to those around us.

14You have made us a byword among the nations,a laughingstockamong the peoples.

15All day long my disgrace is before me,and shame has covered my face,

16at the voice of the scorner and reviler,because of the enemy, bent on revenge.

17All this has come upon us,though we have not forgotten You or betrayed Your covenant.

18Our hearts have not turned back;our steps have not strayed from Your path.

19But You have crushed us in the lair of jackals;You have covered us with deepest darkness.

20If we had forgotten the name of our Godor spread out our hands to a foreign god,

21would not God have discovered,since He knows the secrets of the heart?

22Yet for Your sake we face death all day long;we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

23Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping?Arise! Do not reject us forever.

24Why do You hide Your faceand forget our affliction and oppression?

25For our soul has sunk to the dust;our bodies cling to the earth.

26Rise up; be our help!Redeem us on account of Your loving devotion.