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¹ It has come to our ears, O God, our fathers have given us the story, of the works which you did in their days, in the old times,² Uprooting the nations with your hand, and planting our fathers in their place; cutting down the nations, but increasing the growth of your people.³ For they did not make the land theirs by their swords, and it was not their arms which kept them safe; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your face, because you had pleasure in them.⁴ You are my King and my God; ordering salvation for Jacob.⁵ Through you will we overcome our haters; by your name will they be crushed under our feet who are violent against us.⁶ I will not put faith in my bow, my sword will not be my salvation.⁷ But it is you who have been our saviour from those who were against us, and have put to shame those who had hate for us.⁸ Our pride is in God at all times, to his name we give praise for ever. (Selah.)

⁹ But now you have sent us away from you, and put us to shame; you do not go out with our armies.¹⁰ Because of this we are turned back by the attacker: those who have hate for us take our goods for themselves.¹¹ You have made us like sheep which are taken for meat; we are put to flight among the nations.¹² You let your people go for nothing; your wealth is not increased by their price.¹³ You have made us to be looked down on by our neighbours, we are laughed at and shamed by those who are round about us.¹⁴ Our name is a word of shame among the nations, a sign for the shaking of heads among the peoples.¹⁵ My downfall is ever before me, and I am covered with the shame of my face;¹⁶ Because of the voice of him who says sharp and bitter words; because of the hater and him who is the instrument of punishment.

¹⁷ All this has come on us, but still we have kept you in our memory; and we have not been false to your word.¹⁸ Our hearts have not gone back, and our steps have not been turned out of your way;¹⁹ Though you have let us be crushed in the place of jackals, though we are covered with darkest shade.²⁰ If the name of our God has gone out of our minds, or if our hands have been stretched out to a strange god,²¹ Will not God make search for it? for he sees the secrets of the heart.²² Truly, because of you we are put to death every day; we are numbered like sheep for destruction.²³ Why are you sleeping, O Lord? awake! and come to our help, do not give us up for ever.²⁴ Why is your face covered, and why do you give no thought to our trouble and our cruel fate?²⁵ For our souls are crushed down to the dust: our bodies are stretched out on the earth.²⁶ Up! and come to our help, and give us salvation because of your mercy.