1: It has come to our ears, O God, our fathers have given us the story, of the works which you did in their days, in the old times, 2: Uprooting the nations with your hand, and planting our fathers in their place; cutting down the nations, but increasing the growth of your people. 3: For they did not make the land theirs by their swords, and it was not their arms which kept them safe; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your face, because you had pleasure in them. 4: You are my King and my God; ordering salvation for Jacob. 5: Through you will we overcome our haters; by your name will they be crushed under our feet who are violent against us. 6: I will not put faith in my bow, my sword will not be my salvation. 7: But it is you who have been our saviour from those who were against us, and have put to shame those who had hate for us. 8: Our pride is in God at all times, to his name we give praise for ever. (Selah.) 9: But now you have sent us away from you, and put us to shame; you do not go out with our armies. 10: Because of this we are turned back by the attacker: those who have hate for us take our goods for themselves. 11: You have made us like sheep which are taken for meat; we are put to flight among the nations. 12: You let your people go for nothing; your wealth is not increased by their price. 13: You have made us to be looked down on by our neighbours, we are laughed at and shamed by those who are round about us. 14: Our name is a word of shame among the nations, a sign for the shaking of heads among the peoples. 15: My downfall is ever before me, and I am covered with the shame of my face; 16: Because of the voice of him who says sharp and bitter words; because of the hater and him who is the instrument of punishment. 17: All this has come on us, but still we have kept you in our memory; and we have not been false to your word. 18: Our hearts have not gone back, and our steps have not been turned out of your way; 19: Though you have let us be crushed in the place of jackals, though we are covered with darkest shade. 20: If the name of our God has gone out of our minds, or if our hands have been stretched out to a strange god, 21: Will not God make search for it? for he sees the secrets of the heart. 22: Truly, because of you we are put to death every day; we are numbered like sheep for destruction. 23: Why are you sleeping, O Lord? awake! and come to our help, do not give us up for ever. 24: Why is your face covered, and why do you give no thought to our trouble and our cruel fate? 25: For our souls are crushed down to the dust: our bodies are stretched out on the earth. 26: Up! and come to our help, and give us salvation because of your mercy.
