Psalms

¹We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, in the days of old. ²You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad. ³For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them. ⁴God, you are my King. Command victories for Jacob! ⁵Through you, we will push down our adversaries. Through your name, we will tread down those who rise up against us. ⁶For I will not trust in my bow, neither will my sword save me. ⁷But you have saved us from our adversaries, and have shamed those who hate us. ⁸In God we have made our boast all day long. We will give thanks to your name forever. Selah. ⁹But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor, and don’t go out with our armies. ¹⁰You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take plunder for themselves. ¹¹You have made us like sheep for food, and have scattered us among the nations. ¹²You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale. ¹³You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us. ¹⁴You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples. ¹⁵All day long my dishonor is before me, and shame covers my face, ¹⁶at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger. ¹⁷All this has come on us, yet we haven’t forgotten you. We haven’t been false to your covenant. ¹⁸Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path, ¹⁹though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death. ²⁰If we have forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god, ²¹won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart. ²²Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter. ²³Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don’t reject us forever. ²⁴Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression? ²⁵For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the earth. ²⁶Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.