Psalm 44[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[b]

We have heard it with our ears,(A) O God;
    our ancestors have told us(B)
what you did in their days,
    in days long ago.(C)
With your hand you drove out(D) the nations
    and planted(E) our ancestors;
you crushed(F) the peoples
    and made our ancestors flourish.(G)
It was not by their sword(H) that they won the land,
    nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand,(I) your arm,(J)
    and the light(K) of your face, for you loved(L) them.

You are my King(M) and my God,(N)
    who decrees[c] victories(O) for Jacob.
Through you we push back(P) our enemies;
    through your name we trample(Q) our foes.
I put no trust in my bow,(R)
    my sword does not bring me victory;
but you give us victory(S) over our enemies,
    you put our adversaries to shame.(T)
In God we make our boast(U) all day long,(V)
    and we will praise your name forever.[d](W)

But now you have rejected(X) and humbled us;(Y)
    you no longer go out with our armies.(Z)
10 You made us retreat(AA) before the enemy,
    and our adversaries have plundered(AB) us.
11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep(AC)
    and have scattered us among the nations.(AD)
12 You sold your people for a pittance,(AE)
    gaining nothing from their sale.

13 You have made us a reproach(AF) to our neighbors,(AG)
    the scorn(AH) and derision(AI) of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword(AJ) among the nations;
    the peoples shake their heads(AK) at us.
15 I live in disgrace(AL) all day long,
    and my face is covered with shame(AM)
16 at the taunts(AN) of those who reproach and revile(AO) me,
    because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.(AP)

17 All this came upon us,
    though we had not forgotten(AQ) you;
    we had not been false to your covenant.
18 Our hearts had not turned(AR) back;
    our feet had not strayed from your path.
19 But you crushed(AS) us and made us a haunt for jackals;(AT)
    you covered us over with deep darkness.(AU)

20 If we had forgotten(AV) the name of our God
    or spread out our hands to a foreign god,(AW)
21 would not God have discovered it,
    since he knows the secrets of the heart?(AX)
22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep(AY) to be slaughtered.(AZ)

23 Awake,(BA) Lord! Why do you sleep?(BB)
    Rouse yourself!(BC) Do not reject us forever.(BD)
24 Why do you hide your face(BE)
    and forget(BF) our misery and oppression?(BG)

25 We are brought down to the dust;(BH)
    our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up(BI) and help us;
    rescue(BJ) us because of your unfailing love.(BK)

Psalm 45[e]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[f] A wedding song.(BL)

My heart is stirred by a noble theme
    as I recite my verses for the king;
    my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

You are the most excellent of men
    and your lips have been anointed with grace,(BM)
    since God has blessed you forever.(BN)

Gird your sword(BO) on your side, you mighty one;(BP)
    clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.(BQ)
In your majesty ride forth victoriously(BR)
    in the cause of truth, humility and justice;(BS)
    let your right hand(BT) achieve awesome deeds.(BU)
Let your sharp arrows(BV) pierce the hearts(BW) of the king’s enemies;(BX)
    let the nations fall beneath your feet.
Your throne, O God,[g] will last for ever and ever;(BY)
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You love righteousness(BZ) and hate wickedness;(CA)
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing(CB) you with the oil of joy.(CC)
All your robes are fragrant(CD) with myrrh(CE) and aloes(CF) and cassia;(CG)
    from palaces adorned with ivory(CH)
    the music of the strings(CI) makes you glad.
Daughters of kings(CJ) are among your honored women;
    at your right hand(CK) is the royal bride(CL) in gold of Ophir.(CM)

10 Listen, daughter,(CN) and pay careful attention:(CO)
    Forget your people(CP) and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;(CQ)
    honor(CR) him, for he is your lord.(CS)
12 The city of Tyre(CT) will come with a gift,[h](CU)
    people of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious(CV) is the princess within her chamber;
    her gown is interwoven with gold.(CW)
14 In embroidered garments(CX) she is led to the king;(CY)
    her virgin companions(CZ) follow her—
    those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,(DA)
    they enter the palace of the king.

16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
    you will make them princes(DB) throughout the land.

17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;(DC)
    therefore the nations will praise you(DD) for ever and ever.(DE)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 44:1 In Hebrew texts 44:1-26 is numbered 44:2-27.
  2. Psalm 44:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 44:4 Septuagint, Aquila and Syriac; Hebrew King, O God; / command
  4. Psalm 44:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  5. Psalm 45:1 In Hebrew texts 45:1-17 is numbered 45:2-18.
  6. Psalm 45:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  7. Psalm 45:6 Here the king is addressed as God’s representative.
  8. Psalm 45:12 Or A Tyrian robe is among the gifts

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