1To the chief musician, for the sons of Korach, a Maskil.ΒΆ 2O God, with our ears have we heard, our fathers have told us, deeds which thou hadst done in their days, in times of old. 3Thou, with thy hand, didst indeed drive out nations, and plant them; thou didst ill-treat people, and cause them to spread out. 4For not by their sword did they obtain possession of the land, and their own arm brought them no victory; but thy right hand, and thy arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst given them thy favor. 5Thou art my King, O God: ordain salvation for Jacob. 6Through thee will we butt down our assailants: through thy name will we tread under foot our opponents. 7For not in my bow will I trust, and my sword shall not help me. 8But thou helpest us against our assailants, and those that hate us thou puttest to shame. 9Of God we boast all the day, and to thy name will we give thanks for ever. Selah. 10But now thou hast cast off, and put us to the blush, and goest not forth with our armies. 11Thou causest us to turn back from before our assailant: and they who hate us take spoil for themselves. 12Thou givest us up like sheep for food, and among the nations hast thou dispersed us. 13Thou sellest thy people for no value, and acquirest no gain by their price. 14Thou renderest us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and a derision to those that are round about us. 15Thou renderest us a by-word among the nations, a shaking of the head among the people. 16All the day is my disgrace before me, and the shame of my face covereth me; 17Because of the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and him that seeketh vengeance. 18All this is come over us, yet have we not forgotten thee; nor have we dealt falsely by thy covenant; 19Our heart is not moved backward, nor hath our step turned aside from thy path: 20Even when thou didst crush us in the abode of monsters, and cover us with the shadow of death. 21If we had forgotten the name of our God, or spread forth our hands to a strange God: 22Would not God search out this? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. 23But for thy sake are we slain all the day; we are counted as flocks destined for slaughter. 24Awake, wherefore wilt thou sleep, O Lord? arise, abandon us not for ever. 25Wherefore wilt thou hide thy face, wilt thou forget our misery, and our oppression? 26For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our body cleaveth unto the earth. Arise unto our help, and redeem us for the sake of thy kindness.