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A Prayer for Help

For the director of music. A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of the sons of Korah [C descendants of Kohath, son of Levi, who served as Temple musicians; 1 Chr. 6:22].

44 God, we have heard ·about you [L with our ears; 78:3].
    Our ·ancestors [fathers] ·told [recited to] us
what you did in their days,
    in days long ago.
With your ·power [L hand] you ·forced [dispossessed] the nations out of the land
    and ·placed [L planted] our ancestors here.
You ·destroyed [troubled] ·those other nations [L the peoples],
    but you ·made our ancestors grow strong [set them free].
It wasn’t their swords that ·took [possessed] the land.
    It wasn’t their ·power [L arm] that gave them victory.
But it was your ·great power [L arm] and ·strength [L right hand].
    ·You were with them [L …and the light of your face] because you ·loved [delighted in] them.

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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.

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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

44 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.

How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.

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.

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Redemption Remembered in Present Dishonor

To the Chief Musician. A (A)Contemplation[a] of the sons of Korah.

44 We have heard with our ears, O God,
(B)Our fathers have told us,
The deeds You did in their days,
In days of old:
(C)You drove out the [b]nations with Your hand,
But them You planted;
You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out.
For (D)they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,
Nor did their own arm save them;
But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,
(E)Because You favored them.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 44:1 Heb. Maschil
  2. Psalm 44:2 Gentiles, heathen

Come to Our Help

To the choirmaster. (A)A Maskil[a] of the Sons of Korah.

44 O God, we have heard with our ears,
    (B)our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
    (C)in the days of old:
you with your own hand (D)drove out the nations,
    but (E)them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
    but (F)them you set free;
for not (G)by their own sword did they win the land,
    nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
    and (H)the light of your face,
    (I)for you delighted in them.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 44:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term