To the Chief Musician. A contemplation for the sons of Korah.

1We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us the work which You did in their days, in the days of old.

2You drove out the nations with Your hand and planted them; You did afflict the people and cast them out,

3For not by their own sword did they possess the land, neither did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, and Your arm, and the light of Your countenance because You favored them.

4You are my King, O God; command deliverance for Jacob.

5Through You we will push back our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us,

6For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.

7But You have saved us from our enemies and have put them to shame, those who hated us.

8In God we boast all the day long and praise Your name forever. Selah.

9Yet You have cast us off, and have shamed us, and You do not go forth with our armies.

10You make us turn back from the adversary and those who hate us plunder for themselves.

11You have given us like sheep to be eaten and have scattered us among the heathen.

12You have sold Your people for no great price, gaining nothing from their sale.

13You make us a curse to our neighbors, a scorn and a mockery to those who are round about us.

14You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the people.

15My confusion is before me all day long, and the shame of my face has covered me

16Because of the voice of him who slanders and reviles, and because of the enemy and avenger.

17All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten You nor have we dealt falsely in Your covenant.

18Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps turned aside from Your way,

19Yet You have crushed us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death.

20If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god,

21Shall not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

22Yea, for Your sake we are put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

23Awake! Why do You sleep, O LORD? Arise! Do not cast us off forever.

24Why do You hide Your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression?

25For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly cleaves to the earth.

26Arise for our help, and redeem us for the sake of Your steadfast love.