Psalms 44

A Lament for God’s People

1 God, we heard it with our ears; Our dads told us the story, The work You did in their days, in the old times.

2 You kicked out the nations with Your hand, But You planted them; You messed up the people, but You made them grow.

3 Because they did not gain the land with their own sword, And their arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your face, because You were happy with them.

4 You are my King and my God, Who orders rescue for Jacob.

5 Through You we knock down our haters; Through Your name we stomp on those who get up against us.

6 Because I do not trust in my bow, And my sword is not going to save me.

7 But You saved us from our haters, And You made those who hate us look like fools.

8 In God we brag all day long, And we thank Your name forever.

A Cry of Despair

9 But You pushed us away and made us look like fools, And You do not go out with our armies.

10 You made us turn back from the enemy; And those who hate us took our stuff for themselves.

11 You handed us over like sheep to be eaten, And scattered us among the nations.

12 You sold Your people for nothing, And You received nothing in return.

13 You made us a diss to our neighbors, A joke and a clown show to those around us.

14 You made us a word to the nations, A head-shaking diss among the people.

15 My shame is in front of me all day, And my face is covered with shame,

16 At the voice of the dude who is clowning and dissing, because of the enemy and the revenge-seeker.

A Plea for God’s Help

17 All this came on us, But we did not forget You, And we did not lie to Your promise.

18 Our heart did not turn back, And our steps did not leave Your path,

19 That You would break us in the spot of jackals And cover us with the shadow of death.

20 If we forgot the name of our God Or held our hands out to a fake god,

21 Would not God find it out, Because He knows the secrets of the heart.

22 But because of You we get murdered all day; We looked at like sheep for the slaughter.

23 Wake up! Why are You sleeping, Lord, Get up! Do not push us away forever.

24 Why You hide Your face And forget our suffering and our oppression,

25 Because our soul is bent down to the dirt; Our body is stuck to the ground.

26 Get up, help us; Rescue us because of Your grace.