1We have heard with our ears , O God , our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days , in the times of old . 2How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand , and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people , and cast them out . 3For they got not the land in possession by their own sword , neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand , and thine arm , and the light of thy countenance , because thou hadst a favour unto them. 4Thou art my King , O God : command deliverances for Jacob . 5Through thee will we push down our enemies : through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. 6For I will not trust in my bow , neither shall my sword save me. 7But thou hast saved us from our enemies , and hast put them to shame that hated us. 8In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever . Selah .
The Present Distress
9But thou hast cast off , and put us to shame ; and goest not forth with our armies . 10Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy : and they which hate us spoil for themselves. 11Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat ; and hast scattered us among the heathen . 12Thou sellest thy people for nought , and dost not increase thy wealth by their price . 13Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours , a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us. 14Thou makest us a byword among the heathen , a shaking of the head among the people . 15My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me, 16For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth ; by reason of the enemy and avenger .
A Cry for Help
17All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant . 18Our heart is not turned back , neither have our steps declined from thy way ; 19Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons , 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 knoweth the secrets of the heart . 22Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter .
A Declaration of Faith
23Awake , why sleepest thou, O Lord ? arise , cast us not off for ever . 24Wherefore hidest thou thy face , and forgettest our affliction and our oppression ? 25For our soul is bowed down to the dust : our belly cleaveth unto the earth . 26Arise for our help , and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.