Psalm 44

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes:

(vv.1-8) 131 Southwark, 80 Lancaster, 52 Old 44th

(vv.9-26) 123 St Neot, 39 Caroline

1    O God, we with our ears have heard,

            our fathers have us told,

      What works thou in their days hadst done,

            ev’n in the days of old.

2    Thy hand did drive the heathen out,

            and plant them in their place;

      Thou didst afflict the nations,

            but them thou didst increase.

3    For neither got their sword the land,

            nor did their arm them save;

      But thy right hand, arm, countenance;

            for thou them favour gave.

4    Thou art my King: for Jacob, Lord,

            deliv’rances command.

5    Through thee we shall push down our foes,

            that do against us stand:

      We, through thy name, shall tread down those

            that ris’n against us have.

6    For in my bow I shall not trust,

            nor shall my sword me save.

7    But from our foes thou hast us sav’d,

            our haters put to shame.

8    In God we all the day do boast,

            and ever praise thy name.

9    But now we are cast off by thee,

            and us thou putt’st to shame;

      And when our armies do go forth,

            thou go’st not with the same.

10  Thou mak’st us from the enemy,

            faint-hearted, to turn back;

      And they who hate us for themselves

            our spoils away do take.

11  Like sheep for meat thou gavest us;

            ’mong heathen cast we be.

12  Thou didst for nought thy people sell;

            their price enrich’d not thee.

13  Thou mak’st us a reproach to be

            unto our neighbours near;

      Derision and a scorn to them

            that round about us are.

14  A by-word also thou dost us

            among the heathen make;

      The people, in contempt and spite,

            at us their heads do shake.

15  Before me my confusion

            continually abides;

      And of my bashful countenance

            the shame me ever hides:

16  For voice of him that doth reproach,

            and speaketh blasphemy;

      By reason of th’ avenging foe,

            and cruel enemy.

17  All this is come on us, yet we

            have not forgotten thee;

      Nor falsely in thy covenant

            behav’d ourselves have we.

18  Back from thy way our heart not turn’d;

            our steps no straying made;

19  Though us thou brak’st in dragons’ place,

            and cover’dst with death’s shade.

20  If we God’s name forgot, or stretch’d

            to a strange god our hands,

21  Shall not God search this out? for he

            heart’s secrets understands.

22  Yea, for thy sake we’re kill’d all day,

            counted as slaughter-sheep.

23  Rise, Lord, cast us not ever off;

            awake, why dost thou sleep?

24  O wherefore hidest thou thy face?

            forgett’st our cause distress’d,

25  And our oppression? For our soul

            is to the dust down press’d:

      Our belly also on the earth

            fast cleaving, hold doth take.

26  Rise for our help, and us redeem,

            ev’n for thy mercies’ sake.