1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
2 How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
4 Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
5 Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
7 But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
9 But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
10 Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
11 Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
12 Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
14 Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
15 My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
16 For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
18 Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
19 Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.
1 [[To the chief Musician H5329 for the sons H1121 of Korah, H7141 Maschil.]] H4905 We have heard H8085 with our ears, H241 O God, H430 our fathers H1 have told H5608 us, what work H6467 thou didst H6466 in their days, H3117 in the times H3117 of old. H6924
2 How thou didst drive out H3423 the heathen H1471 with thy hand, H3027 and plantedst H5193 them; how thou didst afflict H7489 the people, H3816 and cast them out. H7971
3 For they got H3423 not the land H776 in possession H3423 by their own sword, H2719 neither did their own arm H2220 save H3467 them: but thy right hand, H3225 and thine arm, H2220 and the light H216 of thy countenance, H6440 because thou hadst a favour H7521 unto them.
4 Thou art my King, H4428 O God: H430 command H6680 deliverances H3444 for Jacob. H3290
5 Through thee will we push down H5055 our enemies: H6862 through thy name H8034 will we tread them under H947 that rise up H6965 against us.
6 For I will not trust H982 in my bow, H7198 neither shall my sword H2719 save H3467 me.
7 But thou hast saved H3467 us from our enemies, H6862 and hast put them to shame H954 that hated H8130 us.
8 In God H430 we boast H1984 all the day H3117 long, and praise H3034 thy name H8034 for ever. H5769 Selah. H5542
9 But H637 thou hast cast off, H2186 and put us to shame; H3637 and goest not forth H3318 with our armies. H6635
10 Thou makest us to turn H7725 back H268 from the enemy: H6862 and they which hate H8130 us spoil H8154 for themselves.
11 Thou hast given H5414 us like sheep H6629 appointed for meat; H3978 and hast scattered H2219 us among the heathen. H1471
12 Thou sellest H4376 thy people H5971 for nought, H1952 and dost not increase H7235 thy wealth by their price. H4242
13 Thou makest H7760 us a reproach H2781 to our neighbours, H7934 a scorn H3933 and a derision H7047 to them that are round about H5439 us.
14 Thou makest H7760 us a byword H4912 among the heathen, H1471 a shaking H4493 of the head H7218 among the people. H3816
15 My confusion H3639 is continually H3117 before me, and the shame H1322 of my face H6440 hath covered H3680 me,
16 For the voice H6963 of him that reproacheth H2778 and blasphemeth; H1442 by reason H6440 of the enemy H341 and avenger. H5358
17 All this is come H935 upon us; yet have we not forgotten H7911 thee, neither have we dealt falsely H8266 in thy covenant. H1285
18 Our heart H3820 is not turned H5472 back, H268 neither have our steps H838 declined H5186 from thy way; H734
19 Though thou hast sore broken H1794 us in the place H4725 of dragons, H8577 and covered H3680 us with the shadow of death. H6757
20 If we have forgotten H7911 the name H8034 of our God, H430 or stretched out H6566 our hands H3709 to a strange H2114 god; H410
21 Shall not God H430 search this out? H2713 for he knoweth H3045 the secrets H8587 of the heart. H3820
22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed H2026 all the day H3117 long; we are counted H2803 as sheep H6629 for the slaughter. H2878
23 Awake, H5782 why sleepest H3462 thou, O Lord? H136 arise, H6974 cast us not off H2186 for ever. H5331
24 Wherefore hidest H5641 thou thy face, H6440 and forgettest H7911 our affliction H6040 and our oppression? H3906
25 For our soul H5315 is bowed down H7743 to the dust: H6083 our belly H990 cleaveth H1692 unto the earth. H776
26 Arise H6965 for our help, H5833 and redeem H6299 us for thy mercies' H2617 sake.
1 We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, What work thou didst in their days, In the days of old.
2 Thou didst drive out the nations with thy hand; But them thou didst plant: Thou didst afflict the peoples; But them thou didst spread abroad.
3 For they gat not the land in possession by their own sword, Neither did their own arm save them; But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, Because thou wast favorable unto them.
4 Thou art my King, O God: Command deliverance for Jacob.
5 Through thee will we push down our adversaries: Through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow, Neither shall my sword save me.
7 But thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And hast put them to shame that hate us.
8 In God have we made our boast all the day long, And we will give thanks unto thy name for ever. Selah
9 But now thou hast cast `us' off, and brought us to dishonor, And goest not forth with our hosts.
10 Thou makest us to turn back from the adversary; And they that hate us take spoil for themselves.
11 Thou hast made us like sheep `appointed' for food, And hast scattered us among the nations.
12 Thou sellest thy people for nought, And hast not increased `thy wealth' by their price.
13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to them that are round about us.
14 Thou makest us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples.
15 All the day long is my dishonor before me, And the shame of my face hath covered me,
16 For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth, By reason of the enemy and the avenger.
17 All this is come upon us; Yet have we not forgotten thee, Neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
18 Our heart is not turned back, Neither have our steps declined from thy way,
19 That thou hast sore broken us in the place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, Or spread forth our hands to a strange god;
21 Will not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? Arise, cast `us' not off for ever.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: Our body cleaveth unto the earth.
26 Rise up for our help, And redeem us for thy lovingkindness' sake. Psalm 45 For the Chief Musician; set to Shoshannim. `A Psalm' of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves.
1 To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. An Instruction. O God, with our ears we have heard, Our fathers have recounted to us, The work Thou didst work in their days, In the days of old.
2 Thou, `with' Thy hand, nations hast dispossessed. And Thou dost plant them. Thou afflictest peoples, and sendest them away.
3 For, not by their sword Possessed they the land, And their arm gave not salvation to them, But Thy right hand, and Thine arm, And the light of Thy countenance, Because Thou hadst accepted them.
4 Thou `art' He, my king, O God, Command the deliverances of Jacob.
5 By Thee our adversaries we do push, By Thy name tread down our withstanders,
6 For, not in my bow do I trust, And my sword doth not save me.
7 For Thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And those hating us Thou hast put to shame.
8 In God we have boasted all the day, And Thy name to the age we thank. Selah.
9 In anger Thou hast cast off and causest us to blush, And goest not forth with our hosts.
10 Thou causest us to turn backward from an adversary, And those hating us, Have spoiled for themselves.
11 Thou makest us food like sheep, And among nations Thou hast scattered us.
12 Thou sellest Thy people -- without wealth, And hast not become great by their price.
13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, A scorn and a reproach to our surrounders.
14 Thou makest us a simile among nations, A shaking of the head among peoples.
15 All the day my confusion `is' before me, And the shame of my face hath covered me.
16 Because of the voice of a reproacher and reviler, Because of an enemy and a self-avenger.
17 All this met us, and we did not forget Thee, Nor have we dealt falsely in Thy covenant.
18 We turn not backward our heart, Nor turn aside doth our step from Thy path.
19 But Thou hast smitten us in a place of dragons, And dost cover us over with death-shade.
20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, And spread our hands to a strange God,
21 Doth not God search out this? For He knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22 Surely, for Thy sake we have been slain all the day, Reckoned as sheep of the slaughter.
23 Stir up -- why dost Thou sleep, O Lord? Awake, cast us not off for ever.
24 Why Thy face hidest Thou? Thou forgettest our afflictions and our oppression,
25 For bowed to the dust hath our soul, Cleaved to the earth hath our belly.
26 Arise, a help to us, And ransom us for thy kindness' sake.
1 {To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. An instruction.} O God, with our ears have we heard, our fathers have told us, the work thou wroughtest in their days, in the days of old:
2 Thou, by thy hand, didst dispossess the nations, but them thou didst plant; thou didst afflict the peoples, but them didst thou cause to spread out.
3 For not by their own sword did they take possession of the land, neither did their own arm save them; but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst delight in them.
4 Thou thyself art my king, O God: command deliverance for Jacob.
5 Through thee will we push down our adversaries; through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
6 For I will not put confidence in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
7 For thou hast saved us from our adversaries, and hast put them to shame that hate us.
8 In God will we boast all the day, and we will praise thy name for ever. Selah.
9 But thou hast cast off, and put us to confusion, and dost not go forth with our armies;
10 Thou hast made us to turn back from the adversary, and they that hate us spoil for themselves;
11 Thou hast given us over like sheep [appointed] for meat, and hast scattered us among the nations;
12 Thou hast sold thy people for nought, and hast not increased [thy wealth] by their price;
13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a mockery and a derision for them that are round about us;
14 Thou makest us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples.
15 All the day my confusion is before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
16 Because of the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and the avenger.
17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely against thy covenant:
18 Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy path;
19 Though thou hast crushed us in the place of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God, and stretched out our hands to a strange ùgod,
21 Would not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22 But for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are reckoned as sheep for slaughter.
23 Awake, why sleepest thou, Lord? arise, cast [us] not off for ever.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, [and] forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
26 Rise up for our help, and redeem us for thy loving-kindness' sake.
1 > We have heard with our ears, God; Our fathers have told us, What work you did in their days, In the days of old.
2 You drove out the nations with your hand, But you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, But you spread them abroad.
3 For they didn't get the land in possession by their own sword, Neither did their own arm save them; But your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your face, Because you were favorable to them.
4 You are my King, God. Command victories for Jacob!
5 Through you, will we push down our adversaries. Through your name, will we tread them under who rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow, Neither shall my sword save me.
7 But you have saved us from our adversaries, And have shamed those who hate us.
8 In God we have made our boast all day long, We will give thanks to your name forever. Selah.
9 But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor, And don't go out with our armies.
10 You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take spoil for themselves.
11 You have made us like sheep for food, And have scattered us among the nations.
12 You sell your people for nothing, And have gained nothing from their sale.
13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.
14 You make us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples.
15 All day long my dishonor is before me, And shame covers my face,
16 At the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, Because of the enemy and the avenger.
17 All this has come on us, Yet have we not forgotten you, Neither have we been false to your covenant.
18 Our heart has not turned back, Neither have our steps strayed from your path,
19 Though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, Or spread forth our hands to a strange god;
21 Won't God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
22 Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.
23 Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don't reject us forever.
24 Why do you hide your face, And forget our affliction and our oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body cleaves to the earth.
26 Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness' sake.
1 <To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah Maschil.> 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.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 44
Commentary on Psalms 44 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 44
We are not told either who was the penmen of this psalm or when and upon what occasion it was penned, upon a melancholy occasion, we are sure, not so much to the penman himself (then we could have found occasions enough for it in the history of David and his afflictions), but to the church of God in general; and therefore, if we suppose it penned by David, yet we must attribute it purely to the Spirit of prophecy, and must conclude that the Spirit (whatever he himself had) had in view the captivity of Babylon, or the sufferings of the Jewish church under Antiochus, or rather the afflicted state of the Christian church in its early days (to which v. 22 is applied by the apostle, Rom. 8:36), and indeed in all its days on earth, for it is its determined lot that it must enter into the kingdom of heaven through many tribulations. And, if we have any gospel-psalms pointing at the privileges and comforts of Christians, why should we not have one pointing at their trials and exercises? It is a psalm calculated for a day of fasting and humiliation upon occasion of some public calamity, either pressing or threatening. In it the church is taught,
In singing this psalm we ought to give God the praise of what he has formerly done for his people, to represent our own grievances, or sympathize with those parts of the church that are in distress, to engage ourselves, whatever happens, to cleave to God and duty, and then cheerfully to wait the event.
To the chief musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.
Psa 44:1-8
Some observe that most of the psalms that are entitled Maschil-psalms of instruction, are sorrowful psalms; for afflictions give instructions, and sorrow of spirit opens the ear to them. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest and teachest.
In these verses the church, though now trampled upon, calls to remembrance the days of her triumph, of her triumph in God and over her enemies. This is very largely mentioned here,
Psa 44:9-16
The people of God here complain to him of the low and afflicted condition that they were now in, under the prevailing power of their enemies and oppressors, which was the more grievous to them because they were now trampled upon, who had always been used, in their struggles with their neighbours, to win the day and get the upper hand, and because those were now their oppressors whom they had many a time triumphed over and made tributaries, and especially because they had boasted in their God with great assurance that he would still protect and prosper them, which made the distress they were in, and the disgrace they were under, the more shameful. Let us see what the complaint is.
Psa 44:17-26
The people of God, being greatly afflicted and oppressed, here apply to him; whither else should they go?