Psalm 44,23 | New International Reader’s Version

For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.

1 God, we have heard what you did. Those who came before us have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. 2 By your power you drove out the nations. You gave our people homes in the land. You crushed the people who were there. And you made our people do well. 3 They didn’t win the land with their swords. They didn’t gain success by their own power. Your powerful right hand and your mighty arm gave them victory. You gave them success because you loved them. 4 You are my King and my God. You give victories to the people of Jacob. 5 With your help we push back our enemies. By your power we walk all over them. 6 I put no trust in my bow. My sword doesn’t bring me victory. 7 But you give us victory over our enemies. You put them to shame. 8 All day long we talk about how great God is. We will praise your name for ever. 9 But now you have turned your back on us and made us humble. You don’t march out with our armies anymore. 10 You made us turn and run from our enemies. They have taken what belongs to us. 11 You handed us over to be eaten up like sheep. You have scattered us among the nations. 12 You sold your people for very little. You didn’t gain anything when you sold them. 13 You have made us something that our neighbours laugh at. Those who live around us make fun of us and tease us. 14 The nations make jokes about us. They shake their heads at us. 15 All day long I have to live with my shame. My face is covered with it. 16 That’s because they laugh at me and attack me with their words. They want to get even with me. 17 All of this happened to us, even though we had not forgotten you. We had not broken the covenant you made with us. 18 Our hearts had not turned away from you. Our feet had not wandered from your path. 19 But you crushed us and left us to the wild dogs. You covered us over with deep darkness. 20 We didn’t forget our God. We didn’t spread out our hands in prayer to a false god. 21 If we had, God would have discovered it. He knows the secrets of our hearts. 22 But because of you, we face death all day long. We are considered as sheep to be killed. 23 Lord, wake up! Why are you sleeping? Get up! Don’t say no to us for ever. 24 Why do you turn your face away from us? Why do you forget our pain and troubles? 25 We are brought down to the dust. Our bodies lie flat on the ground. 26 Rise up and help us. Save us because of your faithful love.

English Standard Version

Come to Our Help

1 To the choirmaster. A Maskil* of the Sons of Korah. O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: 2 you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free; 3 for 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! 5 Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us. 6 For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. 7 But 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. 9 But you have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies. 10 You have made us turn back from the foe, and those who hate us have gotten spoil. 11 You 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. 13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us. 14 You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock* among the peoples. 15 All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face 16 at 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. 18 Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way; 19 yet you have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death. 20 If 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. 22 Yet 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! 24 Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? 25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground. 26 Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

Psalm 44,23 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.

Come to Our Help