Commentary on Psalms - Volume 5

To the Chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. Giving instruction

1O God! with our ears we have heard, Our fathers have told us, The work which thou hast done in their days, In the days of old.

2Thou with thy hand hast expelled the heathen, and planted them: Thou hast wasted the peoples and multiplied them:

3For not by their own sword acquired they the land, And their own arm did not save them; But thy right hand and thy arm, and the light of thy countenance, Because thou wast favorable to them.

4 Thou, even thou, art my King; O God! command salvations for Jacob.

5Through thee our adversaries with the horn we have pushed; In thy name we have trampled under foot those who rise up against us.

6For not in my bow will I trust, And my sword will not save me.

7Surely thou hast saved us from our enemies, And our haters thou hast put to shame.

8In God we will boast all the day, And thy name for ever shall we praise. Selah.

9Nevertheless thou hast abhorred us and put us to shame, And thou goest not forth any more with our armies.

10Thou hast made us to turn back from him that afflicteth us, And our haters have spoiled us for themselves.

11Thou hast given us as sheep for food; And among the heathen thou hast scattered us.

12Thou hast sold thy people, and not become rich, And thou hast not increased the price of them.

13Thou hast made us a reproach to our neighbors, A scorn and derision to those who are round about us.

14Thou hast made us a byword among the heathen, A shaking of the head among the peoples.

15Daily is my reproach before me, And the shame of my face hath quite covered me,

16Because of the voice of him who reproacheth and revileth, Because of the face of the adversary and avenger.

17All this is come upon us, and we have not forgotten thee, Nor dealt perfidiously in thy covenant;

18Not turned back hath our heart, Nor declined have our steps from thy path.

19Although thou hast crushed us in the place of dragons, And covered us with the shadow of death.

20If we have forgotten the name of our God, And have spread forth our hands to a God that is strange;

21Shall not God search out this? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

22Surely for thy sake we are killed daily; We are accounted as sheep [appointed] for slaughter.

23Arise, why sleepest thou, O Lord? Awake, do not forget us for ever.

24Wherefore thy face dost thou hide? Wilt thou forget our misery and our affliction?

25For humbled to the dust is our soul; Cleave to the earth doth our belly.

26Arise for our help, And redeem us for the sake of thy loving-kindness.