To the Director: An instructiona of the Sons of Korah.

A Prayer in Times of Defeat

1God, we heard it with our ears;

our ancestors told us about what you did in their day—

a long time ago.

2With your hand you expelled the nations

and established our ancestors.b

You afflicted nations

and cast them out.

3It was not with their sword that they inherited the land,

nor did their own arm deliver them.

But it was by your power,c your strength,

and by the light of your face;

because you were pleased with them.

4You are my king, God,

commandd victoriese for Jacob.

5Through you we will knock down our oppressors;

through your name we will tread down those who rise up against us.

6For I place no confidence in my bow,

nor will my sword deliver me.

7For you delivered us from our oppressors

and put to shame those who hate us.

8We will praise God all day long;

and to your name we will give thanks forever.

Interlude

9However, you cast us off and made us ashamed!

You did not even march with our armies!

10You made us retreat from our oppressors.

Our enemies ransacked us.

11You handed us over to be slaughtered like sheep

and you scattered us among the nations.

12You sold out your people for nothing,

and made no profit at that price.

13You made us a laughing stock to our neighbors,

a source of mockery and derision to those around us.

14You made us an object lesson among the nations;

people shake their heads at us.f

15My dishonor torturesg me continuously;h

the shame on my face overwhelmsi me

16because of the voice of the one who mocks and reviles,

because of the enemy and the avenger.

17All this came upon us,

yet we did not forsake you,

and we have not dealt falsely with your covenant;

18Our hearts have not turned away;

our steps have not swerved from your path.

19Nevertheless, you crushed us in the lair of jackals,

and covered us in deep darkness.j

20If we had forgotten the name of our God

or lifted our hands to a foreign god,

21wouldn’t God find out

since he knows the secrets of the heart?

22For your sake we are being killed all day long.

We are thought of as sheep to be slaughtered.

23Wake up! Why are you asleep, Lord?

Get up! Don’t cast us off forever!

24Why are you hiding your face?

Why are you ignoring our affliction and oppression?

25For wek have collapsed in the dust;

our bodies cling to the ground.

26Arise! Deliver us!

Redeem us according to your gracious love!