Psalm 44 T. S.
Words: Sternhold and Hopkins, The Whole Book of Psalms Collected into English Metre
1 Our ears have heard Our fathers tell,
and reverently record
The wondrous works that thou hast done
in ancient time, O Lord.
2 How thou did'st drive the heathen out
with a most pow'rful hand,
Planting our fathers in their place,
and gav'st to them their land,
3 They conquered not by their own sword
the land wherein they dwell;
But by thy hand, thy arm, and grace,
because thou lov'dst them well.
4 Thou art my King, O God, who sav'st
Jacob in sundry wise;
Led with thy pow'r we threw down such
as did against us rise.
5 I trusted not in bow nor sword,
they could not save me sound;
Thou kept'st us from our foes' great rage,
and didst them all confound.
6 And still we boast of thee our God,
and praise thy holy Name;
Yet now thou go'st not with our host,
but leavest us to shame.
7 Thou mad'st us flee before our foes,
so were we over-trod;
They did us rob, and spoil our goods,
we were dispersed abroad:
8 Thou hast us given to our foes,
as sheep for to be slain;
Amongst the heathen ev'ry where
scattered we do remain.
9 Thy people thou hast sold like slaves,
and as a thing of naught;
For profit none thou hadst thereby,
no gain at all was sought.
10 And to our neighbors thou hast made
of us a laughing-stock;
And those that round about us dwell,
at us do grin and mock.
The Second Part.
11 Thus we serve for no other use,
but for a common talk;
They mock, they scorn, they shake their heads,
wherever they do walk.
12 With shame and great confusion I
afflicted am full sore;
Yea, so I blush, that all my face
with red is covered o'er.
13 For why? We hear such sland'rous words,
such false reports and lies;
That death it is to see their wrongs,
their threat'nings, and their cries.
14 For all this we forgot not thee,
nor yet thy cov'nant break;
We turned not back our hearts from thee,
nor did thy paths forsake,
15 Yet thou hast trod us down to dust,
where dens of dragons be;
And covered us with shade of death,
and great adversity.
16 If we God's Name forgotten have,
and help of idols sought,
Shall he not search and find it out
for he doth know our thought?
17 But 'tis for thy Name's sake, O Lord,
we always are slain thus,
As sheep into the shambles sent,
e'en so they deal with us.
18 Up, Lord, why sleepest thou? awake,
for ever leave us not;
Why hidest thou thy countenance?
our thrall thou hast forgot.
19 E'en to the dust our soul is brought,
our troubles so increase:
Our belly cleaveth to the ground,
our grief no time doth cease.
20 Rise up therefore for our defense,
and help us, Lord, at need
We thee beseech for thy goodness,
to rescue us with speed.
