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Psalm chapter 44

English Standard Version

1O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: 2you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free; 3for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them. 4 You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob! 5Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us. 6For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. 7But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us. 8 In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah 9But you have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies. 10You have made us turn back from the foe, and those who hate us have gotten spoil. 11You have made us like sheep for slaughter and have scattered us among the nations. 12 You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them. 13You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us. 14You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples. 15All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face 16at the sound of the taunter and reviler, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger. 17 All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant. 18Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way; 19yet you have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death. 20If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, 21 would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart. 22Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever! 24Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? 25For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground. 26Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!
New International Version

1For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. 2With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.
3It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. 4You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. 5Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. 6I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; 7but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.
8In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. 9But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies. 10You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us. 11You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.
12You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale. 13You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us. 14You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us. 15I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame
16at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge. 17All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten you; we had not been false to your covenant. 18Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path.
19But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals; you covered us over with deep darkness. 20If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, 21would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?
22Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 23Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
24Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression? 25We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. 26Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.
New American Standard Bible

1 God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us The work that You did in their days, In the days of old. 2You with Your own hand drove out the nations; Then You planted them; You afflicted the peoples, Then You let them go free. 3For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them. 4You are my King, God; Command victories for Jacob. 5Through You we will push back our adversaries; Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us. 6For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me. 7But You have saved us from our adversaries, And You have put to shame those who hate us. 8In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Your name forever. Selah 9Yet You have rejected us and brought us to dishonor, And do not go out with our armies. 10You cause us to turn back from the enemy; And those who hate us have taken spoils for themselves. 11You turn us over to be eaten like sheep, And have scattered us among the nations. 12You sell Your people cheaply, And have not profited by their sale. 13You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors, Of scoffing and ridicule to those around us. 14You make us a proverb among the nations, A laughingstock among the peoples. 15All day long my dishonor is before me And I am covered with my humiliation, 16Because of the voice of one who taunts and reviles, Because of the presence of the enemy and the avenger. 17All this has come upon us, but we have not forgotten You, And we have not dealt falsely with Your covenant. 18Our heart has not turned back, And our steps have not deviated from Your way, 19Yet You have crushed us in a place of jackals And covered us with deep darkness. 20If we had forgotten the name of our God Or extended our hands to a strange god, 21Would God not find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart. 22But for Your sake we are killed all day long; We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 23Wake Yourself up, why do You sleep, Lord? Awake, do not reject us forever. 24Why do You hide Your face And forget our affliction and oppression? 25For our souls have sunk down into the dust; Our bodies cling to the earth. 26Rise up, be our help, And redeem us because of Your mercy.
Christian Standard Bible

1For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. God, we have heard with our ears— our ancestors have told us— the work you accomplished in their days, in days long ago: 2In order to plant them, you displaced the nations by your hand; in order to settle them, you brought disaster on the peoples.
3For they did not take the land by their sword— their arm did not bring them victory— but by your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable toward them. 4You are my King, my God, who ordains victories for Jacob. 5Through you we drive back our foes; through your name we trample our enemies. 6For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword does not bring me victory. 7But you give us victory over our foes and let those who hate us be disgraced.
8We boast in God all day long; we will praise your name forever. Selah 9But you have rejected and humiliated us; you do not march out with our armies. 10You make us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have taken plunder for themselves. 11You hand us over to be eaten like sheep and scatter us among the nations. 12You sell your people for nothing; you make no profit from selling them. 13You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors, a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us. 14You make us a joke among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples. 15My disgrace is before me all day long, and shame has covered my face,
16because of the taunts of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy and avenger. 17All this has happened to us, but we have not forgotten you or betrayed your covenant. 18Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from your path. 19But you have crushed us in a haunt of jackals and have covered us with deepest darkness. 20If we had forgotten the name of our God and spread out our hands to a foreign god, 21wouldn’t God have found this out, since he knows the secrets of the heart?
22Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 23Wake up, Lord! Why are you sleeping? Get up! Don’t reject us forever! 24Why do you hide and forget our affliction and oppression? 25For we have sunk down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. 26Rise up! Help us! Redeem us because of your faithful love.
New Living Translation

1 O God, we have heard it with our own ears — our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago: 2You drove out the pagan nations by your power and gave all the land to our ancestors. You crushed their enemies and set our ancestors free. 3They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them.
4You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel. 5Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes. 6I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. 7You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us.
8O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name. Interlude
9But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead our armies to battle. 10You make us retreat from our enemies and allow those who hate us to plunder our land. 11You have butchered us like sheep and scattered us among the nations. 12You sold your precious people for a pittance, making nothing on the sale. 13You let our neighbors mock us. We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us. 14You have made us the butt of their jokes; they shake their heads at us in scorn. 15We can’t escape the constant humiliation; shame is written across our faces. 16All we hear are the taunts of our mockers. All we see are our vengeful enemies.
17All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant. 18Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path. 19Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home. You have covered us with darkness and death. 20If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods, 21God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart. 22But for your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.
23Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever. 24Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression? 25We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt. 26Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of your unfailing love.
King James Version

1To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
2How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
3For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
4Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
5Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
6For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
7But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
8In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
9But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
10Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
11Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
12Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
13Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
14Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
15My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
16For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
17All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
18Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
19Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
20If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
21Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
23Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
24Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
25For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
26Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.
New King James Version

1{To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah.} We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, The deeds You did in their days, In days of old: 2 You drove out the nations with Your hand, But them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. 3For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them. 4 You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. 5Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. 6For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me. 7But You have saved us from our enemies, And have put to shame those who hated us.
8 In God we boast all day long, And praise Your name forever. Selah
9But You have cast us off and put us to shame, And You do not go out with our armies. 10You make us turn back from the enemy, And those who hate us have taken spoil for themselves. 11 You have given us up like sheep intended for food, And have scattered us among the nations. 12 You sell Your people for next to nothing, And are not enriched by selling them. 13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, A scorn and a derision to those all around us. 14 You make us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples. 15My dishonor is continually before me, And the shame of my face has covered me, 16Because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles, Because of the enemy and the avenger. 17 All this has come upon us; But we have not forgotten You, Nor have we dealt falsely with Your covenant. 18Our heart has not turned back, Nor have our steps departed from Your way; 19But You have severely broken us in the place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death. 20If we had forgotten the name of our God, Or stretched out our hands to a foreign god, 21 Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart. 22 Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 23 Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise! Do not cast us off forever. 24 Why 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 ground. 26Arise for our help, And redeem us for Your mercies’ sake.

What does Psalm chapter 44 mean?

This psalm implies Israel was recovering from an especially embarrassing defeat. No explicit event is mentioned. However, various clues in the text suggest an incident with Edom. There, Israel was surprised and battered by their enemies while the main army was occupied elsewhere (Psalm 60; 85; Amos 1:6; 2 Samuel 8:13). Since no other details are offered, connecting this passage to its inspiration is mere speculation.

The psalmist begins by acknowledging that God was responsible for Israel's great victories in the past. Tales of these triumphs were passed down from generation to generation. They were also recorded in books such as Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. There is no question in the writer's mind that the Lord deserves praise for those events. For the same reason, the writer notes that any success he might have in the future will depend on God's power, not his own (Psalm 44:1–8).

However, the Lord has allowed Israel to suffer defeat. In fact, this loss has shattered the psalmist's confidence. The people are subject to shame, ridicule, and taunting from their enemies. The situation is so dire that the name of Israel is being used as a punchline: a joke referring to their current situation. The psalmist experiences humiliation and embarrassment and feels God had completely abandoned them during the recent debacle (Psalm 44:9–16).

Making matters worse, the psalmist sees no reason for this defeat. Israel had been defeated in the past when they ignored God or His commands (Numbers 14:39–45). God promised that idolatry and other national sins would lead to negative consequences (Deuteronomy 30:15–18). Yet the psalmist is convinced Israel is guilty of no such sins. The writer does not go as far as to claim that the nation is perfectly following the Law. Yet he insists the people are loyal to God, not false idols. The psalmist agonizes to think that God has allowed such suffering, though Israel has not been disloyal. In the New Testament (Romans 8:36), Paul cites verse 22 when teaching that suffering does not imply God has ceased to love His people (Psalm 44:17–22).

Scripture often records statements of raw, unfiltered anguish towards God (Habakkuk 1:2–4; Psalm 73:2–3). These can be uncomfortable, but always return to an acknowledgement of the Lord's goodness and truth (Habakkuk 1:5–11; Psalm 73:15–19; Job 13:15). Verse 23 repeatedly suggests God is uncaring or oblivious to their pain, using the metaphor of being asleep. The writer employs the question human beings ask amid suffering: "why?" Despite that angst, the psalmist prays for God's help. The final statement of the psalm is a reference to God's unending love and loyal care for His people. Despite his pain, the psalmist still prays to the Lord, whom he assumes will come to the rescue (Psalm 44:23–26).
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