1 TO THE OVERSEER. AN INSTRUCTION OF THE SONS OF KORAH. O God, we have heard with our ears, || Our fathers have recounted to us, || The work You worked in their days, || In the days of old. 2 You, [with] Your hand, have dispossessed nations. And You plant them. You afflict peoples, and send them away. 3 For they did not possess the land by their sword, || And their arm did not give salvation to them, || But Your right hand, and Your arm, || And the light of Your countenance, || Because You had accepted them. 4 You [are] He, my King, O God, || Command the deliverances of Jacob. 5 By You we push our adversaries, || By Your Name we tread down our withstanders, 6 For I do not trust in my bow, || And my sword does not save me. 7 For You have saved us from our adversaries, || And You have put to shame those hating us. 8 In God we have boasted all the day, || And we thank Your Name for all time. Selah. 9 In anger You have cast off and cause us to blush, || And do not go forth with our hosts. 10 You cause us to turn backward from an adversary, || And those hating us, || Have spoiled for themselves. 11 You make us food like sheep, || And You have scattered us among nations. 12 You sell Your people—without wealth, || And have not become great by their price. 13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, || A scorn and a reproach to our surrounders. 14 You make us an allegory among nations, || A shaking of the head among peoples. 15 All the day my confusion [is] before me, || And the shame of my face has covered me. 16 Because of the voice of a reproacher and reviler, || Because of an enemy and a self-avenger. 17 All this met us, and we did not forget You, || Nor have we dealt falsely in Your covenant. 18 We do not turn our heart backward, || Nor turn aside our step from Your path. 19 But You have struck us in a place of dragons, || And cover us over with death-shade. 20 If we have forgotten the Name of our God, || And spread our hands to a strange God, 21 Does God not search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart. 22 Surely, for Your sake we have been slain all the day, || Reckoned as sheep of the slaughter. 23 Stir up—why do You sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not cast us off forever. 24 Why do You hide Your face? You forget our afflictions and our oppression, 25 For our soul has bowed to the dust, || Our belly has cleaved to the earth. 26 Arise, a help to us, || And ransom us for your kindness’ sake.