Psalm 43 – Deus auribus nostris

The church commemorates former favours, and present afflictions; under which she prays for succour.

[1] Unto the end, for the sons of Core, to give understanding. [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. [3] Thy hand destroyed the Gentiles, and thou plantedst them: thou didst afflict the people and cast them out. [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. [5] Thou art thyself my king and my God, who commandest the saving of Jacob.

[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. [7] For I will not trust in my bow: neither shall my sword save me. [8] But thou hast saved us from them that afflict us: and hast put them to shame that hate us. [9] In God shall we glory all the day long: and in thy name we will give praise for ever. [10] But now thou hast cast us off, and put us to shame: and thou, O God, wilt not go out with our armies.

[11] Thou hast made us turn our back to our enemies: and they that hated us plundered for themselves. [12] Thou hast given us up like sheep to be eaten: thou hast scattered us among the nations. [13] Thou hast sold thy people for no price: and there was no reckoning in the exchange of them. [14] Thou hast made us a reproach to our neighbours, a scoff and derision to them that are round about us. [15] Thou hast made us a byword among the Gentiles: a shaking of the head among the people.

[16] All the day long my shame is before me: and the confusion of my face hath covered me, [17] At the voice of him that reproacheth and detracteth me: at the face of the enemy and persecutor. [18] All these things have come upon us, yet we have not forgotten thee: and we have not done wickedly in thy covenant. [19] And our heart hath not turned back: neither hast thou turned aside our steps from thy way. [20] For thou hast humbled us in the place of affliction: and the shadow of death hath covered us.

[21] If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have spread forth our hands to a strange god: [22] Shall not God search out these things: for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Because for thy sake we are killed all the day long: we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. [23] Arise, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, and cast us not off to the end. [24] Why turnest thou thy face away? and forgettest our want and our trouble? [25] For our soul is humbled down to the dust: our belly cleaveth to the earth.

[26] Arise, O Lord, help us and redeem us for thy name’s sake.