Maschil, for the sons of Korah

1We have heard it with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what You did in their days, in times of old. 2How You drove out the nations with Your hand, and planted them; how You uprooted the pagan peoples, and drove them out. 3For they (the Israelites) did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor by their own strength, but by Your right hand, Your arm, and by the light of Your presence, because You were favorable to them. 4You are my King, and God; command victories for Jacob. 5Through Your power will we repel our enemies; through Your name will we trample them who rise against us. 6For I will not trust in my bow, nor my sword to save me. 7But You have saved us from our enemies, and have humiliated them who hated us. 8In God we glory all the day long, and praise Your name forever. Selah.

9But now You have abandoned and embarrassed us; You no longer go forth with our armies. 10You make us retreat from the enemy; and our foes have plundered us. 11You have made us like sheep intended for food; and have scattered us among the nations. 12You sell Your people for nothing, with no profit from their sale. 13You have made us an object of scorn to our neighbors; those around us mock and ridicule us. 14You make us a laughing stock among the nations, who shake their head at us. 15My disgrace is ever before me, and shame covers my face, 16At the taunts of those who deride and blaspheme; because the enemy is bent on revenge.

17All this has come upon us; yet have we not forgotten You, and have been faithful to Your covenant. 18Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps deviated from Your way; 19Yet You have crushed us in a desolate place of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death. 20If we have forgotten the name of our God, or reached out to a strange god, 21Would the God Who searches the secrets of the heart not know it? 22Yet, for Your sake we are killed every day long; and considered sheep to be slaughtered.

23Awake, O LORD! Why do You sleep? Do not forsake us forever. 24Why do You hide Your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression? 25For our soul has sunk into the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. 26Rise to our rescue, and redeem us for Your mercies' sake.