Psalm 44 | Liturgical Calendar

1

We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, *

what you did in the days of old;

2

How you drove out the nations with your hand, and planted our fathers in the land; *

how you destroyed the nations and cast them out.

3

For they did not possess the land by their own sword, *

neither was it their own arm that helped them;

4

But by your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your countenance, *

because you favored them.

5

You are my King, O God; *

you send help to Jacob.

6

Through you we will overthrow our enemies, *

and in your Name will we tread down those who rise up against us.

7

For I will not trust in my bow; *

it is not my sword that shall help me;

8

But you save us from our enemies *

and put to shame those who hate us.

9

We make our boast in God all day long *

and will praise your Name for ever.

10

But now you have cast us off and put us to shame, *

and you do not go forth with our armies.

11

You make us turn our backs upon our enemies, *

so that those who hate us plunder our goods.

12

You let us be eaten up like sheep *

and have scattered us among the nations.

13

You sell your people for nothing *

and take no money for them.

14

You make us the reproach of our neighbors, *

to be laughed to scorn, and held in derision by those who are round about us.

15

You make us a byword among the nations, *

so that the peoples shake their heads at us.

16

My disgrace is daily before me, *

and the shame of my face has covered me,

17

Because of the voice of the slanderer and blasphemer, *

because of the enemy and avenger.

18

And though all this has come upon us, yet we do not forget you, *

nor have we been unfaithful to your covenant.

19

Our heart has not turned back, *

nor have our steps departed from your way,

20

Though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, *

and covered us with the shadow of death.

21

If we have forgotten the Name of our God, and held up our hands to any strange god, *

shall not God search it out? For he knows the very secrets of the heart.

22

For your sake we are killed all the day long, *

and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain.

23

Rise up, O Lord! Why are you sleeping ? *

Awake, and cast us not away for ever.

24

Why do you hide your face *

and forget our misery and trouble?

25

For our soul is brought low, even to the dust; *

our belly cleaves to the ground.

26

Arise, O Lord, and help us, *

and deliver us for your mercy’s sake.