Psalm 4

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David.

cb(4,1); 4:1 Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness.

Give me relief from my distress.

Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

cb(4,2); 4:2 You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor?

Will you love vanity, and seek after falsehood?

Selah.

cb(4,3); 4:3 But know that the LORD has set apart for himself him who is godly:

The LORD will hear when I call to him.

cb(4,4); 4:4 Stand in awe, and don’t sin.

Search your own heart on your bed, and be still.

Selah.

cb(4,5); 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness.

Put your trust in the LORD.

cb(4,6); 4:6 Many say, “Who will show us any good?”

LORD, let the light of your face shine on us.

cb(4,7); 4:7 You have put gladness in my heart,

more than when their grain and their new wine are increased.

cb(4,8); 4:8 In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep,

for you, the LORD alone, make me live in safety.

Psalm 44

For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm.

cb(44,1); 44:1 We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days, in the days of old. cb(44,2); 44:2 You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad. cb(44,3); 44:3 For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword,

neither did their own arm save them;

but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your face,

because you were favorable to them.

cb(44,4); 44:4 You are my King, God.

Command victories for Jacob!

cb(44,5); 44:5 Through you, will we push down our adversaries.

Through your name, will we tread them under who rise up against us.

cb(44,6); 44:6 For I will not trust in my bow,

neither shall my sword save me.

cb(44,7); 44:7 But you have saved us from our adversaries,

and have shamed those who hate us.

cb(44,8); 44:8 In God we have made our boast all day long,

we will give thanks to your name forever.

Selah.

cb(44,9); 44:9 But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor,

and don’t go out with our armies.

cb(44,10); 44:10 You make us turn back from the adversary.

Those who hate us take spoil for themselves.

cb(44,11); 44:11 You have made us like sheep for food,

and have scattered us among the nations.

cb(44,12); 44:12 You sell your people for nothing,

and have gained nothing from their sale.

cb(44,13); 44:13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors,

a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.

cb(44,14); 44:14 You make us a byword among the nations,

a shaking of the head among the peoples.

cb(44,15); 44:15 All day long my dishonor is before me,

and shame covers my face,

cb(44,16); 44:16 At the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses,

because of the enemy and the avenger.

cb(44,17); 44:17 All this has come on us,

yet have we not forgotten you,

Neither have we been false to your covenant.

cb(44,18); 44:18 Our heart has not turned back,

neither have our steps strayed from your path,

cb(44,19); 44:19 Though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals,

and covered us with the shadow of death.

cb(44,20); 44:20 If we have forgotten the name of our God,

or spread forth our hands to a strange god;

cb(44,21); 44:21 won’t God search this out?

For he knows the secrets of the heart.

cb(44,22); 44:22 Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long.

We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.

cb(44,23); 44:23 Wake up!

Why do you sleep, Lord?

Arise!

Don’t reject us forever.

cb(44,24); 44:24 Why do you hide your face,

and forget our affliction and our oppression?

cb(44,25); 44:25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust.

Our body cleaves to the earth.

cb(44,26); 44:26 Rise up to help us.

Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.