To the chief Musician, for the sons of Korah, Maschil.
1 We with our ears have heard, O God,
our fathers have us told,
what works thou diddest in their days,
in former days of old.
2 How thy hand drave the heathen out,
and them thou planted hast;
how thou the people didst afflict,
and thou didst them out cast.
3 For they got not by their own sword
the lands possession,
neither yet was it their own arm
wrought their salvation:
but thy right hand, thine arm also,
thy countenance’s light,
because that of thine own good will
thou didst in them delight.
4 Thou art my King, O mighty God,
thou dost the same endure:
do thou for Jacob by command
deliverances procure.
5 Through thee as with a horn we will
push down our enemies:
through thy name will we tread them down
that up against us rise.
6 Because that I will in no wise
any affiance have
upon my bow, neither is it
my sword that shall me save.
7 But from our enemies us thou sav’d,
and put our foes to shame.
8 In God we boast all the day long,
and for aye praise thy name. Selah.
(2)
9 But thou hast cast us off away,
thou makest us also
to be asham’d; neither dost thou
forth with our armies go.
10 Us from before the enemy
thou makest back recoil:
likewise they which our haters be
for themselves us do spoil.
11 Thou hast given us like to sheep
to slaughter that belong;
also thou hast us scattered
the heathen folk among.
12 Thou dost thy people set to sale
whereby no wealth doth rise,
neither dost thou obtain increase
of riches by their price.
13 Unto our neighbours a reproach
thou doest us expose,
a scorn we are and mocking stock
to them that us inclose.
14 Among the heathen people thou
a by word dost us make,
also among the nations
at us their heads they shake.
15 Before me my confusion
it is continually,
and of my countenance the shame
hath over covered me.
16 Because of his voice that doth scorn,
and scoffingly despite;
by reason of the enemy,
and self revenging wight. ???
(3)
17 All this is come on us; we yet
have not forgotten thee,
neither against thy covenant
have we dealt faithlessly.
18 Our heart is not turn’d back, nor have
our steps from thy way stray’d;
19 Though us thou brake in dragons place,
and hid us in deaths shade.
20 Had we forgot God’s name, or stretcht
to a strange God our hands;
21 Shall not God search this out? for he
heart’s secrets understands.
22 Yea, for thee all day we are kill’d;
counted as sheep to slay.
23 Awake, why sleepest thou, Lord? arise,
cast us not off for aye.
24 Thy countenance away from us
O wherefore dost thou hide,
of our grief and oppression
forgetful dost abide?
25 For our soul is bow’d down to dust:
to earth cleaves our belly.
26 Rise for our help, and us redeem
because of thy mercy.