Psalm 44

New Coverdale Version

We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us * what you did in the days of old:

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.

For they did not possess the land by their own sword, * neither was it their own arm that helped them,

But by your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your countenance, * because you favored them.

You are my King, O God; * you send help to Jacob.

Through you we will overthrow our enemies, * and in your Name will we tread down those who rise up against us.

For I will not trust in my bow; * it is not my sword that shall help me;

But you save us from our enemies * and put to shame those who hate us.

We make our boast in God all day long * and will praise your Name for ever.

But now you have cast us off and put us to shame, * and you do not go forth with our armies.

You make us turn our backs upon our enemies, * so that those who hate us plunder our goods.

You let us be eaten up like sheep * and have scattered us among the nations.

You sell your people for nothing * and take no money for them.

You make us the reproach of our neighbors, * to be laughed to scorn, and held in derision by those who are round about us.

You make us a byword among the nations, * so that the peoples shake their heads at us.

My disgrace is daily before me, * and the shame of my face has covered me,

Because of the voice of the slanderer and blasphemer, * because of the enemy and avenger.

And though all this has come upon us, yet we do not forget you, * nor have we been unfaithful to your covenant.

Our heart has not turned back, * nor have our steps departed from your way,

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

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.

For your sake we are killed all the day long, * and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain.

Rise up, O Lord! Why are you sleeping? * Awake, and cast us not away for ever.

Why do you hide your face * and forget our misery and trouble?

For our soul is brought low, even to the dust; * our belly cleaves to the ground.

Arise, O Lord, and help us, * and deliver us for your mercy’s sake.