✧For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm. We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, in the days of old. ✧2You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad. ✧3For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them. ✧4God, you are my King. Command victories for Jacob! ✧5Through you, we will push down our adversaries. Through your name, we will tread down those who rise up against us. ✧6For I will not trust in my bow, neither will my sword save me. ✧7But you have saved us from our adversaries, and have shamed those who hate us. ✧8In God we have made our boast all day long. We will give thanks to your name forever. Selah. ✧9But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor, and don’t go out with our armies. ✧10You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take plunder for themselves. ✧11You have made us like sheep for food, and have scattered us among the nations. ✧12You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale. ✧13You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us. ✧14You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples. ✧15All day long my dishonor is before me, and shame covers my face, ✧16at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger. ✧17All this has come on us, yet we haven’t forgotten you. We haven’t been false to your covenant. ✧18Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path, ✧19though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death. ✧20If we have forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god, ✧21won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart. ✧22Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter. ✧23Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don’t reject us forever. ✧24Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression? ✧25For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the earth. ✧26Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.