1 WE have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us what work thou hast wrought in their days, in the times of old;

2 How thou didst destroy the Gentiles with thy hand, and established thy people; how thou didst vex the kingdoms, and strengthened thy people.

3 For they inherited not the land by their sword, neither did their own arm save them; but thy right hand and thine arm and the light of thy countenance, because thou wast pleased with them.

4 Thou art my King, O God; for thou commandest deliverances for Jacob.

5 Through thee will we pierce our enemies; through thy name will we tread them under that hate us.

6 For we trust not in our bows; neither on our armour to save us.

7 But thou hast saved us from those who hate us, and hast put to shame our enemies.

8 We glorify thee, O God, all the day long, and praise thy name for ever.

9 But now thou hast forsaken us and put us to shame, and goest not forth with our armies:

10 But thou makest us to be defeated; and our enemies have plundered us.

11 Thou hast sold us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the Gentiles.

12 Thou hast sold thy people as a bargain, and dost not profit by their exchange.

13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.

14 Thou makest us a byword among the Gentiles, a shaking of the head among the nations.

15 All the day long my disgrace is before me, and the shame of my face has covered me,

16 Because of the voice of him who reproaches and blasphemes; and because of the enemy that avenges.

17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

18 We have not turned back, neither have we swerved our steps from thy way;