THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.
Psalm 44 ©
The church comforts and strengthens herself by the meditation of God’s former mercies, but over against (that, she) represents Him largely and dolefully her present lamentable condition, under the power of her enemies, wherein, witnessing of her steadfastness in faith and obedience, she solicits for deliverance.
To the chief 1Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.
WE have heard with our ears, O God, our 2fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the 3times of old.
How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedsta4them; how thou didst 5afflict the people, and 6cast them out.
For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm 7save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the 8light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
Thou art 9my King, O God: 10command deliverances 11for Jacob.
Through thee will we 12push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. 13Selah.
But thou hast castb off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
Thou makest us to 14turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil 15for themselves.
Thou hast given us like 16sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
Thou sellest thy people 17for nought, and dost not 18increase thy wealth by their price.
Thou makest us a reproachc to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
Thou makest us a bywordd among the heathen, a 19shaking of the head among the people.
My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
All this is come upon us; yet have 20we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy 21way;
Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of 22dragons, and covered us with the 23shadow of death.
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or 24stretched out our hands to a strange god;
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
Yea, 25fore thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
26Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
For our soul is bowed down to the 27dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
Arise for our 28help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.