To the chief Musician
for the sons
of Korah,
Maschil.
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.
How thou didst drive out
the heathen
with thy hand,
and plantedst
them; how thou didst afflict
the people,
and cast them out.
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.
Thou art my King,
O God:
command
deliverances
for Jacob.
Through thee will we push down
our enemies:
through thy name
will we tread them under
that rise up
against us.
For I will not trust
in my bow,
neither shall my sword
save
me.
But thou hast saved
us from our enemies,
and hast put them to shame
that hated
us.
In God
we boast
all the day
long, and praise
thy name
for ever.
Selah.
But
thou hast cast off,
and put us to shame;
and goest not forth
with our armies.
Thou makest us to turn
back
from the enemy:
and they which hate
us spoil
for themselves.
Thou hast given
us like sheep
appointed for meat;
and hast scattered
us among the heathen.
Thou sellest
thy people
for nought,
and dost not increase
thy wealth by their price.
Thou makest
us a reproach
to our neighbours,
a scorn
and a derision
to them that are round about
us.
Thou makest
us a byword
among the heathen,
a shaking
of the head
among the people.
My confusion
is continually
before me, and the shame
of my face
hath covered
me,
For the voice
of him that reproacheth
and blasphemeth;
by reason
of the enemy
and avenger.
All this is come
upon us; yet have we not forgotten
thee, neither have we dealt falsely
in thy covenant.
Our heart
is not turned
back,
neither have our steps
declined
from thy way;
Though thou hast sore broken
us in the place
of dragons,
and covered
us with the shadow of death.
If we have forgotten
the name
of our God,
or stretched out
our hands
to a strange
god;
Shall not God
search this out?
for he knoweth
the secrets
of the heart.
Yea, for thy sake are we killed
all the day
long; we are counted
as sheep
for the slaughter.
Awake,
why sleepest
thou, O Lord?
arise,
cast us not off
for ever.
Wherefore hidest
thou thy face,
and forgettest
our affliction
and our oppression?
For our soul
is bowed down
to the dust:
our belly
cleaveth
unto the earth.
Arise
for our help,
and redeem
us for thy mercies'
sake.
