1
O God, we have heard it with our own ears— our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago:
2
You drove out the pagan nations by your power and gave all the land to our ancestors. You crushed their enemies and set our ancestors free.
3
They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them.
4
You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel.
5
Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes.
6
I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me.
7
You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us.
8
O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name. Interlude
9
But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead our armies to battle.
10
You make us retreat from our enemies and allow those who hate us to plunder our land.
11
You have butchered us like sheep and scattered us among the nations.
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. It is not certain who was the writer of this psalm, nor when it was written, and to what time it belongs: some have thought it was composed by one of the Babylonish captivity, and that it gives an account of the church and people of God in those times; but what is said in Psalm 44:17 does not seem to agree with Daniel 9:5. It is most likely it was written by David, and to him the Targum ascribes it; though it does not respect his times; since what is said in Psalm 44:9 cannot agree with them; yet he being a prophet might, under a prophetic influence, speak of future times, and represent the church in them. Some are of opinion that he prophetically speaks of the times of the Maccabees and of Antiochus, when the church and people of God suffered much for the true religion, and abode steadfast in it; so Theodoret: but rather the whole may be applied to the times of the New Testament, since Psalm 44:22 is cited by the Apostle Paul, Romans 8:36, and is applied to his times, and as descriptive of the suffering state and condition of the church then; and which seems to be the guide and key for the opening of the whole psalm.
[a].
Hebrew for Jacob. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.