| 1
| We have heard with our ears, O God,
our forefathers have told us, *
the deeds you did in their days,
in the days of old.
|
| 2
| How with your hand you drove the peoples
out
and planted our forefathers in the land; *
how you destroyed nations and made your people flourish.
|
| 3
| For they did not take the land by their sword,
nor did their arm win the victory for them; *
but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your countenance,
because you favored them.
|
| 4
| You are my King and my God; *
you command victories for Jacob.
|
| 5
| Through you we pushed back our adversaries;
*
through your Name we trampled on those who rose up against us.
|
| 6
| For I do not rely on my bow, *
and my sword does not give me the victory.
|
| 7
| Surely, you gave us victory over our adversaries
*
and put those who hate us to shame.
|
| 8
| Every day we gloried in God, *
and we will praise your Name for ever.
|
| 9
| Nevertheless, you have rejected and humbled
us *
and do not go forth with our armies.
|
| 10
| You have made us fall back before our adversary,
*
and our enemies have plundered us.
|
| 11
| You have made us like sheep to be eaten *
and have scattered us among the nations.
|
| 12
| You are selling your people for a trifle
*
and are making no profit on the sale of them.
|
| 13
| You have made us the scorn of our neighbors,
*
a mockery and derision to those around us.
|
| 14
| You have made us a byword among the nations,
*
a laughing-stock among the peoples.
|
| 15
| My humiliation is daily before me, *
and shame has covered my face;
|
| 16
| Because of the taunts of the mockers and
blasphemers, *
because of the enemy and avenger.
|
| 17
| All this has come upon us; *
yet we have not forgotten you,
nor have we betrayed your covenant.
|
| 18
| Our heart never turned back, *
nor did our footsteps stray from your path;
|
| 19
| Though you thrust us down into a place of
misery, *
and covered us over with deep darkness.
|
| 20
| If we have forgotten the Name of our God,
*
or stretched out our hands to some strange god,
|
| 21
| Will not God find it out? *
for he knows the secrets of the heart.
|
| 22
| Indeed, for your sake we are killed all the
day long; *
we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
|
| 23
| Awake, O Lord! why are you sleeping? *
Arise! do not reject us for ever.
|
| 24
| Why have you hidden your face *
and forgotten our affliction and oppression?
|
| 25
| We sink down into the dust; *
our body cleaves to the ground.
|
| 26
| Rise up, and help us, *
and save us, for the sake of your steadfast love.
|
