(A special psalm for the people of Korah and for the music leader.)

A prayer for help

1Our God, our ancestors told us

what wonders you worked

and we listened carefully.

2You chased off the nations

by causing them trouble

with your powerful arm.

Then you let our ancestors

take over their land.

3Their strength and weapons

were not what won the land

and gave them victory!

You loved them and fought

with your powerful arm

and your shining glory.

4You are my God and King,

and you give victory44.4 and…victory: One ancient translation; Hebrew “please give victory”.

to the people of Jacob.

5By your great power,

we knocked our enemies down

and trampled on them.

6I don't depend on my arrows

or my sword to save me.

7But you saved us

from our hateful enemies,

and you put them to shame.

8We boast about you, our God,

and we are always grateful.

9But now you have rejected us;

you don't lead us into battle,

and we look foolish.

10You made us retreat,

and our enemies have taken

everything we own.

11You let us be slaughtered

like sheep,

and you scattered us

among the nations.

12You sold your people

for little or nothing,

and you earned no profit.

13You made us look foolish

to our neighbours,

and people who live nearby

insult us and sneer.

14Foreigners joke about us

and shake their heads.

15I am embarrassed every day,

and I blush with shame.

16But others mock and sneer,

as they watch my enemies

take revenge on me.

17All of this has happened to us,

though we didn't forget you

or break our agreement.

18We always kept you in mind

and followed your teaching.

19But you crushed us,

and you covered us

with deepest darkness

where wild animals live.

20We did not forget you

or lift our hands in prayer

to foreign gods.

21You would have known it

because you discover

every secret thought.

22We face death all day for you.44.22: Ro 8.36.

We are like sheep on their way

to be slaughtered.

23Wake up! Do something, Lord!

Why are you sleeping?

Don't desert us for ever.

24Why do you keep looking away?

Don't forget our sufferings

and all our troubles.

25We are flat on the ground,

holding on to the dust.

26Do something! Help us!

Show how kind you are

and come to our rescue.