1For the worship leader. By the sons of Korah. A meditative psalm. God, we have heard with our own ears; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in the days of old.
2With your own hand, you drove out nations, but you planted our people. You brought hardship on other peoples, but you made our people spread out.
3For they didn't conquer the land with their own strength, nor did their own power save them. Instead, it was your strong hand, your arm, and your favor, because you looked kindly on them.
4You are my King, O God. Command victories for Jacob!
5Through you, we will push back our enemies. Through your name, we will defeat those who attack us.
6For I will not trust in my bow, and my sword will not save me.
7But you have saved us from our enemies and disgraced those who hate us.
8We have boasted in God all day long; we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah.
9But now you have rejected us, brought shame upon us, and no longer go out with our armies.
10You make us retreat from our enemies; those who hate us take our possessions.
11You have made us like sheep to be eaten, and you have scattered us among the nations.
12You sold your people for nothing and gained nothing from their sale.
13You make us an insult to our neighbors, an object of scorn and ridicule to those around us.
14You make us a joke among the nations, causing people to shake their heads at us.
15I face dishonor all day long, and shame covers my face,
16Because of the taunts of those who insult and abuse me, because of my enemies and those who seek revenge.
17All this has happened to us, yet we have not forgotten you, nor have we been unfaithful to your covenant.
18Our hearts have not turned away, nor have our steps strayed from your path,
19Even though you have crushed us in a place where jackals live and covered us with the shadow of death.
20If we had forgotten the name of our God, or worshiped a foreign god, then
21Wouldn't God discover it? For he knows the secrets of our hearts.
22Indeed, for your sake we are killed all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
23Wake up! Why are you sleeping, Lord? Get up! Don’t reject us forever.
24Why do you look away and forget our suffering and oppression?
25Our spirit is brought down to the dust; our bodies stick to the ground.
26Rise up and help us. Rescue us because of your unfailing love.