Psalm 44 Text

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Text Only (Hebrew and English) The text below is divided according to the psalm's poetic lines. For additional information, see our Poetic Structure layer.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC)
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֬רַח מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃ 1a For the director. By the Korahites. A maskil.
אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ בְּאָזְנֵ֬ינוּ שָׁמַ֗עְנוּ 2a God, we have heard [it] with our ears—
אֲבוֹתֵ֥ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָ֑נוּ 2b Our ancestors have recounted to us
פֹּ֥עַל פָּעַ֥לְתָּ בִֽ֝ימֵיהֶ֗ם 2c the deeds which you did in their times—
בִּ֣ימֵי קֶֽדֶם׃ 2d in times long ago.
אַתָּ֤ה ׀ יָדְךָ֡ גּוֹיִ֣ם ה֭וֹרַשְׁתָּ וַתִּטָּעֵ֑ם 3a You, by your strength, dispossessed nations, and then you planted them.
תָּרַ֥ע לְ֝אֻמִּ֗ים וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵֽם׃ 3b You would afflict the people groups, and then you would set them free.
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א בְחַרְבָּ֡ם יָ֥רְשׁוּ אָ֗רֶץ 4a For they did not take possession of the land by means of their sword;
וּזְרוֹעָם֮ לֹא־הוֹשִׁ֪יעָ֫ה לָּ֥מוֹ 4b nor did their power give victory for them.
כִּֽי־יְמִֽינְךָ֣ וּ֭זְרוֹעֲךָ וְא֥וֹר פָּנֶ֗יךָ 4c But rather your right hand, and your power, and the light of your countenance [gave the victory];
כִּ֣י רְצִיתָֽם׃ 4d for you were pleased with them.
*אַתָּה־הוּא מַלְכִּי *אֱלֹהָי 5a You are my king, my God,
מְצַוֶּה* יְשׁוּעוֹת יַעֲקֹב* 5b commanding victory for Jacob!
בְּ֭ךָ צָרֵ֣ינוּ נְנַגֵּ֑חַ 6a With you, we can gore our adversaries;
בְּ֝שִׁמְךָ֗ נָב֥וּס קָמֵֽינוּ׃ 6b under your authority, we can tread down our enemies.
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א בְקַשְׁתִּ֣י אֶבְטָ֑ח 7a Indeed, I cannot trust in my bow,
וְ֝חַרְבִּ֗י לֹ֣א תוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃ 7b nor can my sword give me victory.
כִּ֣י ה֭וֹשַׁעְתָּנוּ מִצָּרֵ֑ינוּ 8a But rather you delivered us from our adversaries;
וּמְשַׂנְאֵ֥ינוּ הֱבִישֽׁוֹתָ׃ 8b and you put our enemies to shame.
בֵּֽ֭אלֹהִים הִלַּלְ֣נוּ כָל־הַיּ֑וֹם 9a We have been boasting in God all day long,
וְשִׁמְךָ֓ ׀ לְעוֹלָ֖ם נוֹדֶ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃ 9b and we will keep declaring your name forever. Selah.
אַף־זָ֭נַחְתָּ וַתַּכְלִימֵ֑נוּ 10a Even so, you have rejected [us]—that is, you have put us to shame.
וְלֹא־תֵ֝צֵ֗א בְּצִבְאוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ 10b And you do not go forth with our armies.
תְּשִׁיבֵ֣נוּ אָ֭חוֹר מִנִּי־צָ֑ר 11a You make us retreat before the adversary,
וּ֝מְשַׂנְאֵ֗ינוּ שָׁ֣סוּ לָֽמוֹ׃ 11b and our enemies have plundered for themselves.
תִּ֭תְּנֵנוּ כְּצֹ֣אן מַאֲכָ֑ל 12a You give us up as sheep for consumption,
וּ֝בַגּוֹיִ֗ם זֵרִיתָֽנוּ׃ 12b and you have scattered us among the nations.
תִּמְכֹּֽר־עַמְּךָ֥ בְלֹא־ה֑וֹן 13a You sell your people without compensation,
וְלֹ֥א־רִ֝בִּ֗יתָ בִּמְחִירֵיהֶֽם׃ 13b and you have not made a profit by them.
תְּשִׂימֵ֣נוּ חֶ֭רְפָּה לִשְׁכֵנֵ֑ינוּ 14a You turn us into an object of scorn to our neighbors—
לַ֥עַג וָ֝קֶ֗לֶס לִסְבִיבוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ 14b An object of scornful derision to those who surround us.
תְּשִׂימֵ֣נוּ מָ֭שָׁל בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם 15a You turn us into a parable among the nations—
*מְנֽוֹד־רֹ֝֗אשׁ *בַּלְאֻמִּים 15b An object of pity among the people groups.
כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם כְּלִמָּתִ֣י נֶגְדִּ֑י 16a All day long, my shame is before me,
וּבֹ֖שֶׁת פָּנַ֣י כִּסָּֽתְנִי׃ 16b and my shamefacedness has covered me,
מִ֭קּוֹל מְחָרֵ֣ף וּמְגַדֵּ֑ף 17a because of the voice of the reviling taunter,
מִפְּנֵ֥י א֝וֹיֵ֗ב וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃ 17b because of the vengeful enemy.
כָּל־זֹ֣את בָּ֭אַתְנוּ וְלֹ֣א שְׁכַחֲנ֑וּךָ 18a All this has come upon us, even though we have not neglected you;
וְלֹֽא־שִׁ֝קַּ֗רְנוּ בִּבְרִיתֶֽךָ׃ 18b Nor have we broken faith with your covenant.
לֹא־נָס֣וֹג אָח֣וֹר לִבֵּ֑נוּ 19a Our heart has not backslid—
וַתֵּ֥ט אֲשֻׁרֵ֗ינוּ מִנִּ֥י אָרְחֶֽךָ׃ 19b that is, our steps have not deviated from your path.
כִּ֣י דִ֭כִּיתָנוּ בִּמְק֣וֹם תַּנִּ֑ים 20a Yet you have crushed us in the place of jackals,
וַתְּכַ֖ס עָלֵ֣ינוּ בְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃ 20b and thus you have covered us with deepest shadow.
אִם־שָׁ֭כַחְנוּ שֵׁ֣ם אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ 21a If we have neglected our God's name—
וַנִּפְרֹ֥שׂ כַּ֝פֵּ֗ינוּ לְאֵ֣ל זָֽר׃ 21b that is, if we had spread our palms in prayer to another god—
הֲלֹ֣א אֱ֭לֹהִים יַֽחֲקָר־זֹ֑את 22a would not God investigate this,
כִּֽי־ה֥וּא יֹ֝דֵ֗עַ תַּעֲלֻמ֥וֹת לֵֽב׃ 22b since he knows the heart's secrets?
כִּֽי־עָ֭לֶיךָ הֹרַ֣גְנוּ כָל־הַיּ֑וֹם 23a Yet we have been killed because of you all day long.
נֶ֝חְשַׁ֗בְנוּ כְּצֹ֣אן טִבְחָֽה׃ 23b We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
ע֤וּרָה ׀ לָ֖מָּה תִישַׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י 24a Awake! Why do you sleep, Lord?
הָ֝קִ֗יצָה אַל־תִּזְנַ֥ח לָנֶֽצַח׃ 24b Wake up! Do not keep rejecting [us] forever!
לָֽמָּה־פָנֶ֥יךָ תַסְתִּ֑יר 25a Why are you hiding your countenance?
תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח עָנְיֵ֣נוּ וְֽלַחֲצֵֽנוּ׃ 25b Why are you neglecting our affliction and oppression?
כִּ֤י שָׁ֣חָה לֶעָפָ֣ר נַפְשֵׁ֑נוּ 26a For our soul has sunk down into the dust;
דָּבְקָ֖ה לָאָ֣רֶץ בִּטְנֵֽנוּ׃ 26b our belly clings to the earth.
ק֭וּמָֽה עֶזְרָ֣תָה לָּ֑נוּ 27a Arise to our aid,
וּ֝פְדֵ֗נוּ לְמַ֣עַן חַסְדֶּֽךָ׃ 27b and redeem us because of your faithfulness!

Structure Overlay Below, the text has been overlaid with our summary structural analysis. For details on the structure, see the Structure At-a-Glance here.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC)
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֬רַח מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃ 1a For the director. By the Korahites. A maskil.
אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ בְּאָזְנֵ֬ינוּ שָׁמַ֗עְנוּ 2a God, we have heard [it] with our ears—
אֲבוֹתֵ֥ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָ֑נוּ 2b Our ancestors have recounted to us
פֹּ֥עַל פָּעַ֥לְתָּ בִֽ֝ימֵיהֶ֗ם 2c the deeds which you did in their times—
בִּ֣ימֵי קֶֽדֶם׃ 2d in times long ago.
אַתָּ֤ה ׀ יָדְךָ֡ גּוֹיִ֣ם ה֭וֹרַשְׁתָּ וַתִּטָּעֵ֑ם 3a You, by your strength, dispossessed nations, and then you planted them.
תָּרַ֥ע לְ֝אֻמִּ֗ים וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵֽם׃ 3b You would afflict the people groups, and then you would set them free.
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א בְחַרְבָּ֡ם יָ֥רְשׁוּ אָ֗רֶץ 4a For they did not take possession of the land by means of their sword;
וּזְרוֹעָם֮ לֹא־הוֹשִׁ֪יעָ֫ה לָּ֥מוֹ 4b nor did their power give victory for them.
כִּֽי־יְמִֽינְךָ֣ וּ֭זְרוֹעֲךָ וְא֥וֹר פָּנֶ֗יךָ 4c But rather your right hand, and your power, and the light of your countenance [gave the victory];
כִּ֣י רְצִיתָֽם׃ 4d for you were pleased with them.
*אַתָּה־הוּא מַלְכִּי *אֱלֹהָי 5a You are my king, my God,
מְצַוֶּה* יְשׁוּעוֹת יַעֲקֹב* 5b commanding victory for Jacob!
בְּ֭ךָ צָרֵ֣ינוּ נְנַגֵּ֑חַ 6a With you, we can gore our adversaries;
בְּ֝שִׁמְךָ֗ נָב֥וּס קָמֵֽינוּ׃ 6b under your authority, we can tread down our enemies.
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א בְקַשְׁתִּ֣י אֶבְטָ֑ח 7a Indeed, I cannot trust in my bow,
וְ֝חַרְבִּ֗י לֹ֣א תוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃ 7b nor can my sword give me victory.
כִּ֣י ה֭וֹשַׁעְתָּנוּ מִצָּרֵ֑ינוּ 8a But rather you delivered us from our adversaries;
וּמְשַׂנְאֵ֥ינוּ הֱבִישֽׁוֹתָ׃ 8b and you put our enemies to shame.
בֵּֽ֭אלֹהִים הִלַּלְ֣נוּ כָל־הַיּ֑וֹם 9a We have been boasting in God all day long,
וְשִׁמְךָ֓ ׀ לְעוֹלָ֖ם נוֹדֶ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃ 9b and we will keep declaring your name forever. Selah.
אַף־זָ֭נַחְתָּ וַתַּכְלִימֵ֑נוּ 10a Even so, you have rejected [us]—that is, you have put us to shame.
וְלֹא־תֵ֝צֵ֗א בְּצִבְאוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ 10b And you do not go forth with our armies.
תְּשִׁיבֵ֣נוּ אָ֭חוֹר מִנִּי־צָ֑ר 11a You make us retreat before the adversary,
וּ֝מְשַׂנְאֵ֗ינוּ שָׁ֣סוּ לָֽמוֹ׃ 11b and our enemies have plundered for themselves.
תִּ֭תְּנֵנוּ כְּצֹ֣אן מַאֲכָ֑ל 12a You give us up as sheep for consumption,
וּ֝בַגּוֹיִ֗ם זֵרִיתָֽנוּ׃ 12b and you have scattered us among the nations.
תִּמְכֹּֽר־עַמְּךָ֥ בְלֹא־ה֑וֹן 13a You sell your people without compensation,
וְלֹ֥א־רִ֝בִּ֗יתָ בִּמְחִירֵיהֶֽם׃ 13b and you have not made a profit by them.
תְּשִׂימֵ֣נוּ חֶ֭רְפָּה לִשְׁכֵנֵ֑ינוּ 14a You turn us into an object of scorn to our neighbors—
לַ֥עַג וָ֝קֶ֗לֶס לִסְבִיבוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ 14b An object of scornful derision to those who surround us.
תְּשִׂימֵ֣נוּ מָ֭שָׁל בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם 15a You turn us into a parable among the nations—
*מְנֽוֹד־רֹ֝֗אשׁ *בַּלְאֻמִּים 15b An object of pity among the people groups.
כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם כְּלִמָּתִ֣י נֶגְדִּ֑י 16a All day long, my shame is before me,
וּבֹ֖שֶׁת פָּנַ֣י כִּסָּֽתְנִי׃ 16b and my shamefacedness has covered me,
מִ֭קּוֹל מְחָרֵ֣ף וּמְגַדֵּ֑ף 17a because of the voice of the reviling taunter,
מִפְּנֵ֥י א֝וֹיֵ֗ב וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃ 17b because of the vengeful enemy.
כָּל־זֹ֣את בָּ֭אַתְנוּ וְלֹ֣א שְׁכַחֲנ֑וּךָ 18a All this has come upon us, even though we have not neglected you;
וְלֹֽא־שִׁ֝קַּ֗רְנוּ בִּבְרִיתֶֽךָ׃ 18b Nor have we broken faith with your covenant.
לֹא־נָס֣וֹג אָח֣וֹר לִבֵּ֑נוּ 19a Our heart has not backslid—
וַתֵּ֥ט אֲשֻׁרֵ֗ינוּ מִנִּ֥י אָרְחֶֽךָ׃ 19b that is, our steps have not deviated from your path.
כִּ֣י דִ֭כִּיתָנוּ בִּמְק֣וֹם תַּנִּ֑ים 20a Yet you have crushed us in the place of jackals,
וַתְּכַ֖ס עָלֵ֣ינוּ בְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃ 20b and thus you have covered us with deepest shadow.
אִם־שָׁ֭כַחְנוּ שֵׁ֣ם אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ 21a If we have neglected our God's name—
וַנִּפְרֹ֥שׂ כַּ֝פֵּ֗ינוּ לְאֵ֣ל זָֽר׃ 21b that is, if we had spread our palms in prayer to another god—
הֲלֹ֣א אֱ֭לֹהִים יַֽחֲקָר־זֹ֑את 22a would not God investigate this,
כִּֽי־ה֥וּא יֹ֝דֵ֗עַ תַּעֲלֻמ֥וֹת לֵֽב׃ 22b since he knows the heart's secrets?
כִּֽי־עָ֭לֶיךָ הֹרַ֣גְנוּ כָל־הַיּ֑וֹם 23a Yet we have been killed because of you all day long.
נֶ֝חְשַׁ֗בְנוּ כְּצֹ֣אן טִבְחָֽה׃ 23b We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
ע֤וּרָה ׀ לָ֖מָּה תִישַׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י 24a Awake! Why do you sleep, Lord?
הָ֝קִ֗יצָה אַל־תִּזְנַ֥ח לָנֶֽצַח׃ 24b Wake up! Do not keep rejecting [us] forever!
לָֽמָּה־פָנֶ֥יךָ תַסְתִּ֑יר 25a Why are you hiding your countenance?
תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח עָנְיֵ֣נוּ וְֽלַחֲצֵֽנוּ׃ 25b Why are you neglecting our affliction and oppression?
כִּ֤י שָׁ֣חָה לֶעָפָ֣ר נַפְשֵׁ֑נוּ 26a For our soul has sunk down into the dust;
דָּבְקָ֖ה לָאָ֣רֶץ בִּטְנֵֽנוּ׃ 26b our belly clings to the earth.
ק֭וּמָֽה עֶזְרָ֣תָה לָּ֑נוּ 27a Arise to our aid,
וּ֝פְדֵ֗נוּ לְמַ֣עַן חַסְדֶּֽךָ׃ 27b and redeem us because of your faithfulness!

Expanded paraphrase The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Expanded Paraphrase
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֬רַח מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃ 1

For the musical director. Written by the Korahites, a family of leaders of the Jerusalem temple . A maskil.

אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ בְּאָזְנֵ֬ינוּ שָׁמַ֗עְנוּ אֲבוֹתֵ֥ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָ֑נוּ בִּ֣ימֵי קֶֽדֶם׃ 2 God, we have heard and heeded[it] — that is, the recounting of past history — with our ears, even if we did not witness it firsthand — Our ancestors from the Conquest generations have recounted to us, by passing down history to subsequent generations , the deeds which you did in their times, in times long ago; and those deeds now serve as a comparison for our present situation .
תָּרַ֥ע לְ֝אֻמִּ֗ים וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵֽם׃ 3 You, God, by your strength — and not our ancestors' strength — dispossessed idolatrous nations from the land of Canaan, in order to make room for the ancestors, to whom you promised the land of Canaan. Therefore you are equally capable of defeating Israel's present enemies. And then you, like a farmer, planted them — that is, the ancestors—in the land of Canaan, as you promised to the patriarchs. Therefore you can establish present-day Israel in the Promised Land . You would often afflict, by means of military defeat , the idolatrous, non-Israelite people groups, as a form of judgment. Therefore you are equally capable of afflicting Israel's present enemies. And then you would set them — that is, the ancestors — free from the oppression of their enemies. Therefore you are equally capable of setting Israel free from their present oppressors .
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א בְחַרְבָּ֡ם יָ֥רְשׁוּ אָ֗רֶץ וּזְרוֹעָם֮ לֹא־הוֹשִׁ֪יעָ֫ה לָּ֥מוֹ כִּֽי־יְמִֽינְךָ֣ וּ֭זְרוֹעֲךָ וְא֥וֹר פָּנֶ֗יךָ כִּ֣י רְצִיתָֽם׃ 4 For they — that is, the ancestors — did not take possession of the land of Canaan by means of military might, represented by their sword; nor did their physical power give victory for them over the nations . But rather, your —that is, God's— right hand which is an image of strength , and your power, and the light of your countenance which is an image of favor[gave the victory]; For the reason you delivered victory for the ancestors was that you were pleased with them, by establishing a covenant relationship with them.
*אַתָּה־הוּא מַלְכִּי *אֱלֹהָי מְצַוֶּה* יְשׁוּעוֹת יַעֲקֹב* 5 You, God, are my —that is, the psalmist's— king, my God; and so, by virtue of corporate solidarity, you are also Israel’s king and God, and we submit to your authority. When we win, you are the one who is commanding victory for Jacob, or Israel, over their enemies!
בְּ֭ךָ צָרֵ֣ינוּ נְנַגֵּ֑חַ בְּ֝שִׁמְךָ֗ נָב֥וּס קָמֵֽינוּ׃ 6 With you, God, when you accompany us into battle , we can gore, with ox-like military strength, our adversaries; Under your kingly authority, when you command victory, we can destructively tread down our enemies.
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א בְקַשְׁתִּ֣י אֶבְטָ֑ח וְ֝חַרְבִּ֗י לֹ֣א תוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃ 7 Indeed, I — and, by virtue of corporate solidarity, Israel — cannot trust in military strength, as represented by my bow, to deliver victory, because military strength is not as trustworthy as God ; nor can my military strength, as represented by the sword, give me victory over enemies, because military strength is not as trustworthy as God.
כִּ֣י ה֭וֹשַׁעְתָּנוּ מִצָּרֵ֑ינוּ וּמְשַׂנְאֵ֥ינוּ הֱבִישֽׁוֹתָ׃ 8 But rather, instead of our military strength , you, God, delivered us —that is, Israel— from our foreign adversaries; And you put our enemies to shame by the public humiliation of military defeat.
בֵּֽ֭אלֹהִים הִלַּלְ֣נוּ כָל־הַיּ֑וֹם וְשִׁמְךָ֓ ׀ לְעוֹלָ֖ם נוֹדֶ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃ 9 We —that is, Israel— have been boasting in God as a form of worship all day long, or continually ; and we will keep declaring your name — that is, God's name, which is a reflection of his character, so that others will know and worship him — forever, or from now on. Selah.
אַף־זָ֭נַחְתָּ וַתַּכְלִימֵ֑נוּ 10 Even so, contrary to expectations , you, God, have rejected [us], and so Israel is experiencing rejection instead of your favor ; that is, by rejecting us you have put us to shame through the public humiliation of defeat. And you currently do not go forth in accompaniment with our armies, to fight our enemies, so our armies cannot win.
תְּשִׁיבֵ֣נוּ אָ֭חוֹר מִנִּי־צָ֑ר וּ֝מְשַׂנְאֵ֗ינוּ שָׁ֣סוּ לָֽמוֹ׃ 11 You, God, continually make us, Israel, retreat in battle before the foreign adversary, which would be consistent with covenant curse, as a consequence of unfaithfulness; and our enemies have plundered us, by taking spoils of war , for themselves, and not as an intentional service to God, and so we are now plundered.
וּ֝בַגּוֹיִ֗ם זֵרִיתָֽנוּ׃ 12 You, God, continually give us, Israel, up as sheep — which should be protected by you, the shepherd — for consumption by our enemies, as if they were wild predators. This consumption that would be consistent with covenant curse, as a consequence of unfaithfulness; and you have scattered us into exile and captivity, like chaff scattered by the wind during the threshing of wheat , among the nations, outside of the Promised land, which would be consistent with covenant curse, as a consequence of unfaithfulness.
תִּמְכֹּֽר־עַמְּךָ֥ בְלֹא־ה֑וֹן וְלֹ֥א־רִ֝בִּ֗יתָ בִּמְחִירֵיהֶֽם׃ 13 You, God, sell your people, Israel, to enemy nations, by allowing enemies to plunder them , without compensation of sacrifice, which would have been expected for a deity's help in battle; you have not made a profit by selling them, suggesting that you are motivated by punishing Israel, rather than receiving sacrifice.
תְּשִׂימֵ֣נוּ חֶ֭רְפָּה לִשְׁכֵנֵ֑ינוּ לַ֥עַג וָ֝קֶ֗לֶס לִסְבִיבוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ 14 You, God, turn us, Israel, into an object of scorn, because of the public shame of being devastated , to our neighbors, that is, the immediately surrounding nations, who have witnessed our defeat — An object of scornful derision to those who surround us.
תְּשִׂימֵ֣נוּ מָ֭שָׁל בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם 15 You, God, turn us, Israel, into a parable, that is, a negative example , among the non-Israelite nations, an object of pity, because of the public shame of being devastated , among the non-Israelite people groups.
כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם כְּלִמָּתִ֣י נֶגְדִּ֑י וּבֹ֖שֶׁת פָּנַ֣י כִּסָּֽתְנִי׃ 16 All day long, or continually , my shame of public defeat is before me in my conscious attention; and so, by virtue of corporate solidarity, Israel’s shame is continually in their conscious attention; and my shamefacedness, or blushing as a depiction of the public shame of being devastated , has covered me,
מִ֭קּוֹל מְחָרֵ֣ף וּמְגַדֵּ֑ף מִפְּנֵ֥י א֝וֹיֵ֗ב וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃ 17 because of the mocking voice of the reviling taunter among the non-Israelite nations , because of the vengeful enemy nations who have had a history of vengeful enmity with Israel.
כָּל־זֹ֣את בָּ֭אַתְנוּ וְלֹ֣א שְׁכַחֲנ֑וּךָ וְלֹֽא־שִׁ֝קַּ֗רְנוּ בִּבְרִיתֶֽךָ׃ 18 All this defeat and humiliation has come from God upon us, Israel, even though, contrary to expectations , we have not neglected you, God, by failing to fulfill covenant obligations; so our defeat does not make sense as a consequence for our disobedience ; nor have we broken faith with your covenant by not fulfilling covenant obligations; so our defeat does not make sense as a consequence for our disobedience.
וַתֵּ֥ט אֲשֻׁרֵ֗ינוּ מִנִּ֥י אָרְחֶֽךָ׃ 19 Our —that is, Israel's— heart, as the seat of reasoning and planning , has not backslid morally, so our defeat does not make sense as a consequence for our disobedience ; that is, by referring to backsliding, I mean that our steps, as an image of life actions , have not morally deviated from your —that is, God's— path, or standard of holiness; so our defeat does not make sense as a consequence for our disobedience.
כִּ֣י דִ֭כִּיתָנוּ בִּמְק֣וֹם תַּנִּ֑ים וַתְּכַ֖ס עָלֵ֣ינוּ בְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃ 20 Yet, contrary to expectations , you, God, have crushed, as an image of total destruction , us, Israel, in the place of jackals, which are scavenging animals, associated with uninhabited wastelands , and thus, by crushing us , you have covered us with deepest shadow, an image of sorrow, fear, and danger.
אִם־שָׁ֭כַחְנוּ שֵׁ֣ם אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וַנִּפְרֹ֥שׂ כַּ֝פֵּ֗ינוּ לְאֵ֣ל זָֽר׃ 21 If, contrary to fact , we, Israel, had neglected our God’s name, or character — that is, by neglect, I mean that if we had spread our palms, as a posture of prayer , in prayer to another idolatrous god, which betrays God and violates the covenant
כִּֽי־ה֥וּא יֹ֝דֵ֗עַ תַּעֲלֻמ֥וֹת לֵֽב׃ 22 could not God, if he thought there was cause for concern, formally investigate this unfaithfulness? But he did not, because he knows there is no cause for concern, since he, the all-knowing God , knows the heart’s secrets — that is, he discerns the innermost parts of the human seat of reasoning and planning. He already knows the answer and has no need for a formal investigation. If there were one, it would only vindicate us.
כִּֽי־עָ֭לֶיךָ הֹרַ֣גְנוּ כָל־הַיּ֑וֹם נֶ֝חְשַׁ֗בְנוּ כְּצֹ֣אן טִבְחָֽה׃ 23 Yet, contrary to expectation , we, Israel, have been killed in battle, and are currently under threat of death , because of you, God, the cause of our defeat and humiliation , all day long, or continually. We are considered by our enemies as unwitting sheep, a vulnerable animal to be slaughtered for food, and so we are under imminent threat of death. We do not know why you would send your innocent sheep to be slaughtered. God ,
ע֤וּרָה ׀ לָ֖מָּה תִישַׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י הָ֝קִ֗יצָה אַל־תִּזְנַ֥ח לָנֶֽצַח׃ 24 awake, or take action, because you seem to be inactive ! Why do you, the God who never sleeps, appear to sleep, Lord, to whom we submit? God , wake up and take action, because you seem to be inactive ! God , do not keep rejecting [us], Israel, forever, as you seem to be doing now, or else we will be destroyed!
לָֽמָּה־פָנֶ֥יךָ תַסְתִּ֑יר תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח עָנְיֵ֣נוּ וְֽלַחֲצֵֽנוּ׃ 25 Why are you, God, hiding your countenance, which represents your presence ? Why are you neglecting, by not fulfilling your covenant obligations , our affliction and oppression at the hands of enemy nations? If we have not neglected the covenant, neither should you!
דָּבְקָ֖ה לָאָ֣רֶץ בִּטְנֵֽנוּ׃ 26 For our soul, our inner being , has sunk down in spiritual depression into the dust of the grave, since we are on the verge of death; our belly, our vulnerable being , clings to the earth in spiritual depression, on the verge of death. God ,
ק֭וּמָֽה עֶזְרָ֣תָה לָּ֑נוּ וּ֝פְדֵ֗נוּ לְמַ֣עַן חַסְדֶּֽךָ׃ 27 arise in action to our aid, to deliver victory over our enemies! And, God , redeem us, Israel, just as you redeemed our ancestors from Egypt, by substituting our enemies in our place , because of your faithfulness, or covenant loyalty, because we know—in spite of our experience—that you are still a faithful God!

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Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC) The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֬רַח מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃
 1a
For the director. By the Korahites. A maskil.
אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ בְּאָזְנֵ֬ינוּ שָׁמַ֗עְנוּ
 2a
God, we have heard [it] with our ears—
אֲבוֹתֵ֥ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָ֑נוּ
 2b
Our ancestors have recounted to us
פֹּ֥עַל פָּעַ֥לְתָּ בִֽ֝ימֵיהֶ֗ם
 2c
the deeds which you did in their times—
בִּ֣ימֵי קֶֽדֶם׃
 2d
in times long ago.
אַתָּ֤ה ׀ יָדְךָ֡ גּוֹיִ֣ם ה֭וֹרַשְׁתָּ וַתִּטָּעֵ֑ם
 3a
You, by your strength, dispossessed nations, and then you planted them.
תָּרַ֥ע לְ֝אֻמִּ֗ים וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵֽם׃
 3b
You would afflict the people groups, and then you would set them free.
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א בְחַרְבָּ֡ם יָ֥רְשׁוּ אָ֗רֶץ
 4a
For they did not take possession of the land by means of their sword;
וּזְרוֹעָם֮ לֹא־הוֹשִׁ֪יעָ֫ה לָּ֥מוֹ
 4b
nor did their power give victory for them.
כִּֽי־יְמִֽינְךָ֣ וּ֭זְרוֹעֲךָ וְא֥וֹר פָּנֶ֗יךָ
 4c
But rather your right hand, and your power, and the light of your countenance [gave the victory];
כִּ֣י רְצִיתָֽם׃
 4d
for you were pleased with them.
*אַתָּה־הוּא מַלְכִּי *אֱלֹהָי
 5a
You are my king, my God,
מְצַוֶּה* יְשׁוּעוֹת יַעֲקֹב*
 5b
commanding victory for Jacob!
בְּ֭ךָ צָרֵ֣ינוּ נְנַגֵּ֑חַ
 6a
With you, we can gore our adversaries;
בְּ֝שִׁמְךָ֗ נָב֥וּס קָמֵֽינוּ׃
 6b
under your authority, we can tread down our enemies.
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א בְקַשְׁתִּ֣י אֶבְטָ֑ח
 7a
Indeed, I cannot trust in my bow,
וְ֝חַרְבִּ֗י לֹ֣א תוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃
 7b
nor can my sword give me victory.
כִּ֣י ה֭וֹשַׁעְתָּנוּ מִצָּרֵ֑ינוּ
 8a
But rather you delivered us from our adversaries;
וּמְשַׂנְאֵ֥ינוּ הֱבִישֽׁוֹתָ׃
 8b
and you put our enemies to shame.
בֵּֽ֭אלֹהִים הִלַּלְ֣נוּ כָל־הַיּ֑וֹם
 9a
We have been boasting in God all day long,
וְשִׁמְךָ֓ ׀ לְעוֹלָ֖ם נוֹדֶ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃
 9b
and we will keep declaring your name forever. Selah.
אַף־זָ֭נַחְתָּ וַתַּכְלִימֵ֑נוּ
 10a
Even so, you have rejected [us]— that is, you have put us to shame.
וְלֹא־תֵ֝צֵ֗א בְּצִבְאוֹתֵֽינוּ׃
 10b
And you do not go forth with our armies.
תְּשִׁיבֵ֣נוּ אָ֭חוֹר מִנִּי־צָ֑ר
 11a
You make us retreat before the adversary,
וּ֝מְשַׂנְאֵ֗ינוּ שָׁ֣סוּ לָֽמוֹ׃
 11b
and our enemies have plundered for themselves.
תִּ֭תְּנֵנוּ כְּצֹ֣אן מַאֲכָ֑ל
 12a
You give us up as sheep for consumption,
וּ֝בַגּוֹיִ֗ם זֵרִיתָֽנוּ׃
 12b
and you have scattered us among the nations.
תִּמְכֹּֽר־עַמְּךָ֥ בְלֹא־ה֑וֹן
 13a
You sell your people without compensation,
וְלֹ֥א־רִ֝בִּ֗יתָ בִּמְחִירֵיהֶֽם׃
 13b
and you have not made a profit by them.
תְּשִׂימֵ֣נוּ חֶ֭רְפָּה לִשְׁכֵנֵ֑ינוּ
 14a
You turn us into an object of scorn to our neighbors—
לַ֥עַג וָ֝קֶ֗לֶס לִסְבִיבוֹתֵֽינוּ׃
 14b
An object of scornful derision to those who surround us.
תְּשִׂימֵ֣נוּ מָ֭שָׁל בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם
 15a
You turn us into a parable among the nations—
*מְנֽוֹד־רֹ֝֗אשׁ *בַּלְאֻמִּים
 15b
An object of pity among the people groups.
כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם כְּלִמָּתִ֣י נֶגְדִּ֑י
 16a
All day long, my shame is before me,
וּבֹ֖שֶׁת פָּנַ֣י כִּסָּֽתְנִי׃
 16b
and my shamefacedness has covered me,
מִ֭קּוֹל מְחָרֵ֣ף וּמְגַדֵּ֑ף
 17a
because of the voice of the reviling taunter,
מִפְּנֵ֥י א֝וֹיֵ֗ב וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃
 17b
because of the vengeful enemy.
כָּל־זֹ֣את בָּ֭אַתְנוּ וְלֹ֣א שְׁכַחֲנ֑וּךָ
 18a
All this has come upon us, even though we have not neglected you;
וְלֹֽא־שִׁ֝קַּ֗רְנוּ בִּבְרִיתֶֽךָ׃
 18b
Nor have we broken faith with your covenant.
לֹא־נָס֣וֹג אָח֣וֹר לִבֵּ֑נוּ
 19a
Our heart has not backslid—
וַתֵּ֥ט אֲשֻׁרֵ֗ינוּ מִנִּ֥י אָרְחֶֽךָ׃
 19b
that is, our steps have not deviated from your path.
כִּ֣י דִ֭כִּיתָנוּ בִּמְק֣וֹם תַּנִּ֑ים
 20a
Yet you have crushed us in the place of jackals,
וַתְּכַ֖ס עָלֵ֣ינוּ בְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃
 20b
and thus you have covered us with deepest shadow.
אִם־שָׁ֭כַחְנוּ שֵׁ֣ם אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ
 21a
If we have neglected our God's name—
וַנִּפְרֹ֥שׂ כַּ֝פֵּ֗ינוּ לְאֵ֣ל זָֽר׃
 21b
that is, if we had spread our palms in prayer to another god—
הֲלֹ֣א אֱ֭לֹהִים יַֽחֲקָר־זֹ֑את
 22a
would not God investigate this,
כִּֽי־ה֥וּא יֹ֝דֵ֗עַ תַּעֲלֻמ֥וֹת לֵֽב׃
 22b
since he knows the heart's secrets?
כִּֽי־עָ֭לֶיךָ הֹרַ֣גְנוּ כָל־הַיּ֑וֹם
 23a
Yet we have been killed because of you all day long.
נֶ֝חְשַׁ֗בְנוּ כְּצֹ֣אן טִבְחָֽה׃
 23b
We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
ע֤וּרָה ׀ לָ֖מָּה תִישַׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י
 24a
Awake! Why do you sleep, Lord?
הָ֝קִ֗יצָה אַל־תִּזְנַ֥ח לָנֶֽצַח׃
 24b
Wake up! Do not keep rejecting [us] forever!
לָֽמָּה־פָנֶ֥יךָ תַסְתִּ֑יר
 25a
Why are you hiding your countenance?
תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח עָנְיֵ֣נוּ וְֽלַחֲצֵֽנוּ׃
 25b
Why are you neglecting our affliction and oppression?
כִּ֤י שָׁ֣חָה לֶעָפָ֣ר נַפְשֵׁ֑נוּ
 26a
For our soul has sunk down into the dust;
דָּבְקָ֖ה לָאָ֣רֶץ בִּטְנֵֽנוּ׃
 26b
our belly clings to the earth.
ק֭וּמָֽה עֶזְרָ֣תָה לָּ֑נוּ
 27a
Arise to our aid,
וּ֝פְדֵ֗נוּ לְמַ֣עַן חַסְדֶּֽךָ׃
 27b
and redeem us because of your faithfulness!