Psaume 44:12-22

12 Tu nous livres comme des brebis qu'on mange; tu nous as dispersés parmi les nations.

13 Tu vends ton peuple pour rien, et tu les mets à vil prix.

14 Tu fais de nous l'opprobre de nos voisins, la risée et le jouet de nos alentours.

15 Tu fais de nous la fable des nations; en nous voyant, les peuples hochent la tête.

16 Mon ignominie est toujours devant moi, et la confusion couvre mon visage,

17 A la voix de celui qui insulte et qui outrage, à la vue de l'ennemi et du vindicatif.

18 Tout cela nous est arrivé; et cependant nous ne t'avons pas oublié, nous n'avons pas forfait à ton alliance.

19 Notre cœur ne s'est point retiré en arrière; nos pas ne se sont point écartés de ton sentier,

20 Quand tu nous as foulés parmi les chacals et couverts de l'ombre de la mort.

21 Si nous eussions oublié le nom de notre Dieu, si nous eussions étendu nos mains vers un dieu étranger,

22 Dieu n'en aurait-il pas fait enquête, lui qui connaît les secrets du cœur?

Psaume 44:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

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.