New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.
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God, we have heard what you did. Those who came before us have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.
2 With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.
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With your powerful hand you drove out the nations. You settled our people in the land. You crushed the people who were there. And you made our people do well.
3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.
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They didn't win the land with their swords. They didn't gain success with their powerful arms. Your powerful right hand and your mighty arm gave them success. You looked on them with favor. You loved them.
4 You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob.
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You are my King and my God. You give success to the people of Jacob.
5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.
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With your help we push our enemies back. By your power we walk all over them.
6 I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;
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I don't trust in my bow. My sword doesn't bring me success.
7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.
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But you give us success over our enemies. You put them to shame.
8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.
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All day long we talk about how great God is. We will praise your name forever. "Selah"
9 But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies.
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But now you have turned your back on us and made us low. You don't march out with our armies anymore.
10 You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us.
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You made us turn and run from our enemies. They have taken what belongs to us.
11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.
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You handed us over to be eaten up like sheep. You have scattered us among the nations.
12 You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale.
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You sold your people for very little. You didn't gain anything when you sold them.
13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us.
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You have made us something that our neighbors laugh at. Those who live around us make fun of us and tease us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.
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The nations make jokes about us. They shake their heads at us.
15 I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame
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All day long I am reminded of my shame. My face is covered with it
16 at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.
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because of those who laugh at me and attack me with their words. They want to get even with me.
17 All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten you; we had not been false to your covenant.
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All of this happened to us, even though we had not forgotten you. We had been true to the covenant you made with us.
18 Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path.
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Our hearts had not turned away from you. Our feet had not wandered from your path.
19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals; you covered us over with deep darkness.
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But you crushed us and left us to the wild dogs. You covered us over with deep darkness.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
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We didn't forget our God. We didn't spread out our hands in prayer to a strange god.
21 would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?
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If we had, God would have discovered it. He knows the secrets of our hearts.
22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
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But because of you, we face death all day long. We are considered as sheep to be killed.
23 Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
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Lord, wake up! Why are you sleeping? Get up! Don't say no to us forever.
24 Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?
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Why do you turn your face away from us? Why do you forget our pain and troubles?
25 We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.
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We are brought down to the dust. Our bodies lie flat on the ground.
26 Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.
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Rise up and help us. Save us because of your faithful love.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.