Comment – The author of Psalm 44 turns his prayer to God in the context of his being considered to belong to the people of God. The greatness and the victories of this people towards other peoples with which the territories were occupied are remembered, not thanks to the weapons available but by the will of the Lord.
Psalm 44 complete
[1] To the choir master. Of Core's children. Maskil.
[2] God, with our ears we heard, our fathers told us about the work you did in their day, in ancient times.
[3] To plant them, with your hand you uprooted the people, to make room for them, you destroyed the peoples.
[4] For not with the sword they conquered the earth, nor was their arm to save them; but your arm and your right hand and the light of your face, because you loved them.
[5] You are my king, my God, who decides victories for Jacob.
[6] For you we have repelled our opponents in your name we have annihilated our attackers.
[7] For in my bow I did not confide and my sword did not save me,
[8] but you saved us from our adversaries, you confused our enemies.
[9] In God we glory each day, celebrating your name without end.
[10] But now you have rejected us and covered us with shame, and you no longer go out with our hosts.
Recommended readings- Psalm 76: complete, commentary
- Psalm 62: complete, commentary
- Psalm 102: complete, commentary
- Psalm 6: complete, commentary
- Psalm 20: complete, commentary
[11] You made us flee in front of our adversaries and our enemies stripped us.
[12] You have delivered us as sheep for slaughter, you have scattered us among the nations.
[13] You sold your people for nothing, you did not earn on their price.
[14] You have made us mockery of our neighbors, mockery and disgrace to those around us.
[15] You have made us the fable of the peoples, the nations shake our heads over us.
[16] Infamy is always before me and shame covers my face
[17] for the voice of those who insult and blaspheme, before the enemy who craves revenge.
[18] All this happened to us and we had not forgotten you, we had not betrayed your covenant.
[19] Our heart had not turned back, our steps had not left your path;
[20] but you brought us down in a place of jackals and wrapped us in dark shadows.
[21] If we had forgotten the name of our God and reached out to a foreign god,
[22] perhaps that God would not find out, he who knows the secrets of the heart?
[23] For you every day we are put to death, esteemed as sheep for slaughter.
[24] Wake up, why are you sleeping, Lord? Awake, do not reject us forever.
[25] Why do you hide your face, forget our misery and oppression?
[26] Since we are prostrated in the dust, our body is stretched out on the ground. Arise, come to our aid;
[27] save us for your mercy.
