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44 (For the one directing. Of the Bnei Korach. A maskil). We have heard with our oznayim, O Elohim, Avoteinu have told us, what po’al (work) Thou hast wrought in their days, in the times of old.

(3) How Thou didst drive out the Goyim with Thy Yad, but plantedst them; how Thou didst afflict the people, but for them Thou madest room.

(4) For they got not eretz in possession by their own cherev, neither did their own zero’a save them, but Thy Yamin (Right Hand), and Thine Zero’a, and the ohr (light) of Thy countenance, because Thou favored them.

(5) Thou art my Melech, O Elohim; command yeshu’ot (deliverances) for Ya’akov.

(6) Through Thee will we push down our enemies; through Thy Shem will we trample them under that rise up against us.

(7) For I will not trust in my keshet (bow), neither shall my cherev save me.

(8) But Thou hast saved us from tzareinu (our enemies), and hast put them to shame that hated us.

(9) In Elohim we boast kol hayom, and praise Thy Shem l’olam (forever). Selah.

(10) But Thou hast cast off, and disgraced us; and goest not forth with tzivoteinu (our armies).

10 (11) Thou makest us to turn back from before the tzar (enemy); and they which hate us have taken plunder for themselves.

11 (12) Thou hast given us up like tzon appointed for food; and hast scattered us among the Goyim.

12 (13) Thou sellest Amecha (Thy People) for a mere nothing, and art not enriched by their price.

13 (14) Thou makest us a cherpah (reproach) to our shchenim (neighbors), a scorn and a derision to them that are all around us.

14 (15) Thou makest us a mashal (byword) among the Goyim, a shaking of the rosh among the peoples.

15 (16) Kol hayom my dishonor is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,

16 (17) At the voice of him that reproacheth and revileth; by reason of the oyev (enemy) and avenger.

17 (18) All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten Thee, neither have we dealt falsely in Thy Brit.

18 (19) Libenu (our heart) is not turned back, neither have our steps departed from Thy way;

19 (20) Though Thou hast crushed us in the makom (place, home, haunt) of jackals, and covered us with the tzalmavet (shadow of death).

20 (21) If we have forgotten the Shem of Eloheinu, or stretched out our palms [in worship] to an el zar (foreign g-d);

21 (22) Shall not Elohim search this out? For He knoweth the secrets of the lev.

22 (23) Yes, for Thy sake are we killed kol hayom; we are counted as tzon (sheep) for the tivchah (slaughter).

23 (24) Awake. Why sleepest Thou, Adonoi? Arise, cast us not off lanetzach (forever).

24 (25) Why hidest Thou Thy face, and forgettest our oni (misery, affliction) and our oppression?

25 (26) For our nefesh is bowed down to the aphar (dust); our beten (belly, body) has deveykus with the dirt.

26 (27) Arise for our help, and redeem us for the sake of Thy chesed.

(A special psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)

A Prayer for Help

Our God, our ancestors told us
what wonders you worked
    and we listened carefully.
You chased off the nations
by causing them trouble
    with your powerful arm.
Then you let our ancestors
    take over their land.
Their strength and weapons
were not what won the land
    and gave them victory!
You loved them and fought
with your powerful arm
    and your shining glory.

You are my God and King,
and you give victory[a]
    to the people of Jacob.
By your great power,
we knocked our enemies down
    and trampled on them.
I don't depend on my arrows
    or my sword to save me.
But you saved us
from our hateful enemies,
    and you put them to shame.
We boast about you, our God,
    and we are always grateful.

But now you have rejected us;
you don't lead us into battle,
    and we look foolish.
10 You made us retreat,
and our enemies have taken
    everything we own.
11 You let us be slaughtered
    like sheep,
and you scattered us
    among the nations.
12 You sold your people
for little or nothing,
    and you earned no profit.

13 You made us look foolish
    to our neighbors;
people who live nearby
    insult us and sneer.
14 Foreigners joke about us
    and shake their heads.
15 I am embarrassed every day,
    and I blush with shame.
16 But others mock and sneer,
as they watch my enemies
    take revenge on me.

17 All this happened to us,
though we didn't forget you
    or break our agreement.
18 We always kept you in mind
    and followed your teaching.
19 But you crushed us,
    and you covered us
with deepest darkness
    where wild animals live.

20 We did not forget you
or lift our hands in prayer
    to foreign gods.
21 You would have known it
because you discover
    every secret thought.
22 (A) We face death all day for you.
We are like sheep on their way
    to be slaughtered.

23 Wake up! Do something, Lord!
Why are you sleeping?
    Don't desert us forever.
24 Why do you keep looking away?
Don't forget our sufferings
    and all our troubles.
25 We are flat on the ground,
    holding on to the dust.
26 Do something! Help us!
Show how kind you are
    and come to our rescue.

Footnotes

  1. 44.4 and … victory: One ancient translation; Hebrew “please give victory.”