New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:
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<To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah Maschil.> It has come to our ears, O God, our fathers have given us the story, of the works which you did in their days, in the old times,
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free;
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Uprooting the nations with your hand, and planting our fathers in their place; cutting down the nations, but increasing the growth of your people.
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm give them victory; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your countenance, for you delighted in them.
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For they did not make the land theirs by their swords, and it was not their arms which kept them safe; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your face, because you had pleasure in them.
4 You are my King and my God; you command victories for Jacob.
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You are my King and my God; ordering salvation for Jacob.
5 Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down our assailants.
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Through you will we overcome our haters; by your name will they be crushed under our feet who are violent against us.
6 For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.
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I will not put faith in my bow, my sword will not be my salvation.
7 But you have saved us from our foes, and have put to confusion those who hate us.
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But it is you who have been our saviour from those who were against us, and have put to shame those who had hate for us.
8 In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. (Selah)
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Our pride is in God at all times, to his name we give praise for ever. (Selah.)
9 Yet you have rejected us and abased us, and have not gone out with our armies.
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But now you have sent us away from you, and put us to shame; you do not go out with our armies.
10 You made us turn back from the foe, and our enemies have gotten spoil.
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Because of this we are turned back by the attacker: those who have hate for us take our goods for themselves.
11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter, and have scattered us among the nations.
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You have made us like sheep which are taken for meat; we are put to flight among the nations.
12 You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.
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You let your people go for nothing; your wealth is not increased by their price.
13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us.
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You have made us to be looked down on by our neighbours, we are laughed at and shamed by those who are round about us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.
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Our name is a word of shame among the nations, a sign for the shaking of heads among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face
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My downfall is ever before me, and I am covered with the shame of my face;
16 at the words of the taunters and revilers, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
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Because of the voice of him who says sharp and bitter words; because of the hater and him who is the instrument of punishment.
17 All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten you, or been false to your covenant.
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All this has come on us, but still we have kept you in our memory; and we have not been false to your word.
18 Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way,
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Our hearts have not gone back, and our steps have not been turned out of your way;
19 yet you have broken us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with deep darkness.
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Though you have let us be crushed in the place of jackals, though we are covered with darkest shade.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god,
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If the name of our God has gone out of our minds, or if our hands have been stretched out to a strange god,
21 would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
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Will not God make search for it? for he sees the secrets of the heart.
22 Because of you we are being killed all day long, and accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
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Truly, because of you we are put to death every day; we are numbered like sheep for destruction.
23 Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not cast us off forever!
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Why are you sleeping, O Lord? awake! and come to our help, do not give us up for ever.
24 Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
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Why is your face covered, and why do you give no thought to our trouble and our cruel fate?
25 For we sink down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.
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For our souls are crushed down to the dust: our bodies are stretched out on the earth.
26 Rise up, come to our help. Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.
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Up! and come to our help, and give us salvation because of your mercy.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.