1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme to give instruction, committed to the sonnes of Korah. We haue heard with our eares, O God: our fathers haue tolde vs the workes, that thou hast done in their dayes, in the olde time: 2 Howe thou hast driuen out the heathen with thine hand, and planted them: how thou hast destroyed the people, and caused them to grow. 3 For they inherited not the lande by their owne sworde, neither did their owne arme saue them: but thy right hand, and thine arme and the light of thy countenance, because thou didest fauour them. 4 Thou art my King, O God: send helpe vnto Iaakob. 5 Through thee haue we thrust backe our aduersaries: by thy Name haue we troden downe them that rose vp against vs. 6 For I do not trust in my bowe, neither can my sworde saue me. 7 But thou hast saued vs from our aduersaries, and hast put them to confusion that hate vs. 8 Therefore will wee praise God continually, and will confesse thy Name for euer. Selah. 9 But now thou art farre off, and puttest vs to confusion, and goest not forth with our armies. 10 Thou makest vs to turne backe from the aduersary, and they, which hate vs, spoile for theselues. 11 Thou giuest vs as sheepe to bee eaten, and doest scatter vs among the nations. 12 Thou sellest thy people without gaine, and doest not increase their price. 13 Thou makest vs a reproche to our neighbours, a iest and a laughing stocke to them that are round about vs. 14 Thou makest vs a prouerbe among the nations, and a nodding of the head among the people. 15 My confusion is dayly before me, and the shame of my face hath couered me, 16 For the voyce of the slaunderer and rebuker, for the enemie and auenger. 17 All this is come vpon vs, yet doe wee not forget thee, neither deale wee falsly concerning thy couenant. 18 Our heart is not turned backe: neither our steps gone out of thy paths, 19 Albeit thou hast smitten vs downe into the place of dragons, and couered vs with the shadow of death. 20 If wee haue forgotten the Name of our God, and holden vp our hands to a strange god, 21 Shall not God searche this out? for hee knoweth the secrets of the heart. 22 Surely for thy sake are we slaine continually, and are counted as sheepe for the slaughter. 23 Vp, why sleepest thou, O Lord? awake, be not farre off for euer. 24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face? and forgettest our miserie and our affliction? 25 For our soule is beaten downe vnto the dust: our belly cleaueth vnto the ground. 26 Rise vp for our succour, and redeeme vs for thy mercies sake.
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.
1 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.
2 How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
3 For 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.
4 Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
5 Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
7 But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
9 But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
10 Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
11 Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
12 Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
14 Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
15 My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
16 For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
18 Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
19 Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.