44 For the musical director: a song[fn] by Korah’s descendants.

44 God, we have listened with our ears.

Our ancestors have told us about the miracles you did in their time—in the old days.

2 You drove out the other nations with your power, but you planted our ancestors.

≈You caused suffering for other people groups, but you sent our ancestors into the land.

3 Yes, they didn’t take over the land with their swords, and their power didn’t save them,

^but it was your power and your direction, because you were pleased with them.

4 God, you are my king who plans victories for Yakob’s descendants.

5 Through you we will destroy our adversaries.

≈In your name we will trample those who come against us,

6 because I won’t trust in my bow,

≈and my sword won’t save me.

7 Yes, you have saved us from our enemies,

≈and have humiliated those who hate us.

8 We’ve boasted in God every day,

and we will praise your name forever. (Instrumental break.)

9 Yet you’ve rejected and humiliated us,

and you don’t go out with our armies.

10 You made us turn back from the enemy,

and those who hate us take plunder for themselves.

11 You’ve made us like sheep to be eaten,

and you scattered us among the nations.

12 You’ve sold your people for virtually nothing—

≈You haven’t profited from their sale.

13 You’ve made us a reproach to our neighbours—

≈a contempt and a scorn to those around us.

14 You made us an insult among the other nations—

≈a shaking of the head among the peoples.

15 My dishonour is on my mind all day,

and my shame has overwhelmed me

16 because of hearing those who taunt and insult me—

facing those vengeful enemies.

17 All of this has come against us,

although we haven’t forgotten you and we haven’t violated your agreement.

18 Our heart hasn’t turned back.

Our steps haven’t strayed from your way.

19 But you’ve crushed us out where the jackals live,

and you’ve covered over us with dark blackness.

20 If we’d forgotten the name of our God

and spread out our hands towards a foreign god,

21 wouldn’t God have discovered that

because he even knows our hearts’ secrets?

22 Indeed, because of you we’re killed all day long—

we’re considered to be like sheep to be slaughtered.

23 My master, wake up. Why are you sleeping?

Do something—don’t reject us forever.

24 Why do you hide away

and forget our oppression and suffering?

25 Yes, our life has sunk down into the dust—

it just as if we’re lying face down on the ground.

26 Take action as our helper

and buy our freedom for us because of your loyal commitment.