Psalms 43; Psalms 44; Psalms 45

1 (42-1) <A psalm for David.> Judge me, O God, and distinguish my cause from the nation that is not holy: deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man.

2 (42-2) For thou art God my strength: why hast thou cast me off? and why do I go sorrowful whilst the enemy afflicteth me?

3 (42-3) Sent forth thy light and thy truth: they have conducted me, and brought me unto thy holy hill, and into thy tabernacles.

4 (42-4) And I will go in to the altar of God: to God who giveth joy to my youth.

5 (42-5) To thee, O God my God, I will give praise upon the harp: why art thou sad, O my soul? and why dost thou disquiet me? (42-6) Hope in God, for I will still give praise to him: the salvation of my countenance, and my God.

1 (43-1) <Unto the end, for the sons of Core, to give understanding.> (43-2) We have heard, O God, with our ears: our fathers have declared to us, The work thou hast wrought in their days, and in the days of old.

2 (43-3) Thy hand destroyed the Gentiles, and thou plantedst them: thou didst afflict the people and cast them out.

3 (43-4) For they got not the possession of the land by their own sword: neither did their own arm save them. But thy right hand and thy arm, and the light of thy countenance: because thou wast pleased with them.

4 (43-5) Thou art thyself my king and my God, who commandest the saving of Jacob.

5 (43-6) Through thee we will push down our enemies with the horn: and through thy name we will despise them that rise up against us.

6 (43-7) For I will not trust in my bow: neither shall my sword save me.

7 (43-8) But thou hast saved us from them that afflict us: and hast put them to shame that hate us.

8 (43-9) In God shall we glory all the day long: and in thy name we will give praise for ever.

9 (43-10) But now thou hast cast us off, and put us to shame: and thou, O God, wilt not go out with our armies.

10 (43-11) Thou hast made us turn our back to our enemies: and they that hated us plundered for themselves.

11 (43-12) Thou hast given us up like sheep to be eaten: thou hast scattered us among the nations.

12 (43-13) Thou hast sold thy people for no price: and there was no reckoning in the exchange of them.

13 (43-14) Thou hast made us a reproach to our neighbours, a scoff and derision to them that are round about us.

14 (43-15) Thou hast made us a byword among the Gentiles: a shaking of the head among the people.

15 (43-16) All the day long my shame is before me: and the confusion of my face hath covered me,

16 (43-17) At the voice of him that reproacheth and detracteth me: at the face of the enemy and persecutor.

17 (43-18) All these things have come upon us, yet we have not forgotten thee: and we have not done wickedly in thy covenant.

18 (43-19) And our heart hath not turned back: neither hast thou turned aside our steps from thy way.

19 (43-20) For thou hast humbled us in the place of affliction: and the shadow of death hath covered us.

20 (43-21) If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have spread forth our hands to a strange god:

21 (43-22) Shall not God search out these things: for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

22 (43-22) Because for thy sake we are killed all the day long: we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

23 (43-23) Arise, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, and cast us not off to the end.

24 (43-24) Why turnest thou thy face away? and forgettest our want and our trouble?

25 (43-25) For our soul is humbled down to the dust: our belly cleaveth to the earth.

26 (43-26) Arise, O Lord, help us and redeem us for thy name’s sake.

1 (44-1) <Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the sons of Core, for understanding. A canticle for the Beloved.> (44-2) My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the king: My tongue is the pen of a scrivener that writeth swiftly.

2 (44-3) Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.

3 (44-4) Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty.

4 (44-5) With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign. Because of truth and meekness and justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.

5 (44-6) Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the hearts of the king’s enemies.

6 (44-7) Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.

7 (44-8) Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

8 (44-9) Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory houses: out of which

9 (44-10) The daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with variety.

10 (44-11) Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father’s house.

11 (44-12) And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.

12 (44-13) And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.

13 (44-14) All the glory of the king’s daughter is within in golden borders,

14 (44-15) Clothed round about with varieties. After her shall virgins be brought to the king: her neighbours shall be brought to thee.

15 (44-16) They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the king.

16 (44-17) Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.

17 (44-18) They shall remember thy name throughout all generations. Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, for ever and ever.