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Psalm 43-45
Common English Bible
Psalm 43-45
Common English Bible
Psalm 43
43 Establish justice for me, God!
Argue my case against ungodly people!
Rescue me from the dishonest and unjust!
2 Because you are my God, my protective fortress!
Why have you rejected me?
Why do I have to walk around,
sad, oppressed by enemies?
3 Send your light and truth—those will guide me!
Let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling place.
4 Let me come to God’s altar—
let me come to God, my joy, my delight—
then I will give you thanks with the lyre,
God, my God!
5 Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed?
Why are you so upset inside?
Hope in God!
Because I will again give him thanks,
my saving presence and my God.
Psalm 44
For the music leader. A maskil[a] of the Korahites.
44 We have heard it, God, with our own ears;
our ancestors told us about it:
about the deeds you did in their days,
in days long past.
2 You, by your own hand, removed all the nations,
but you planted our ancestors.
You crushed all the peoples,
but you set our ancestors free.
3 No, not by their own swords
did they take possession of the land—
their own arms didn’t save them.
No, it was your strong hand, your arm,
and the light of your face
because you were pleased with them.
4 It’s you, God! You who are my king,
the one who orders salvation for Jacob.
5 We’ve pushed our foes away by your help;
we’ve trampled our enemies by your name.
6 No, I won’t trust in my bow;
my sword won’t save me
7 because it’s you who saved us from our foes,
you who put those who hate us to shame.
8 So we glory in God at all times
and give thanks to your name forever. Selah
9 But now you’ve rejected and humiliated us.
You no longer accompany our armies.
10 You make us retreat from the enemy;
our adversaries plunder us.
11 You’ve handed us over like sheep for butchering;
you’ve scattered us among the nations.
12 You’ve sold your people for nothing,
not even bothering to set a decent price.
13 You’ve made us a joke to all our neighbors;
we’re mocked and ridiculed by everyone around us.
14 You’ve made us a bad joke to the nations,
something to be laughed at by all peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace confronts me,
and shame covers my face
16 because of the voices of those
who make fun of me and bad-mouth me,
because of the enemy who is out for revenge.
17 All this has come upon us,
but we haven’t forgotten you
or broken your covenant.
18 Our hearts haven’t turned away,
neither have our steps strayed from your way.
19 But you’ve crushed us in the place where jackals[b] live,
covering us with deepest darkness.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to some strange deity,
21 wouldn’t God have discovered it?
After all, God knows every secret of the heart.
22 No, God, it’s because of you that we are getting killed every day—
it’s because of you that we are considered sheep ready for slaughter.
23 Wake up! Why are you sleeping, Lord?
Get up! Don’t reject us forever!
24 Why are you hiding your face,
forgetting our suffering and oppression?
25 Look: we’re going down to the dust;
our stomachs are flat on the ground!
26 Stand up! Help us!
Save us for the sake of your faithful love.
Psalm 45
For the music leader. According to “The Lilies.” Of the Korahites. A maskil.[c] A love song.
45 A marvelous word has stirred my heart
as I mention my works to the king.
My tongue is the pen of a skillful scribe.
2 You are the most handsome of men;
grace has been poured out on your lips.
No wonder God has blessed you forever!
3 Strap on your sword, great warrior,
with your glory and grandeur.
4 Go and succeed in your grandeur!
Ride out on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness!
Let your strong hand perform awesome deeds.[d]
5 Let the peoples fall beneath you.
May your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies.
6 Your divine throne is eternal and everlasting.
Your royal scepter is a scepter of justice.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness.
No wonder God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of joy more than all your companions!
8 All your clothes have the pleasing scent of myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
The music of stringed instruments coming from ivory palaces entertains you.
9 The royal princess is standing in your precious jewels; [e]
the queen stands at your right, dressed in the gold of Ophir.
10 Listen, daughter; pay attention, and listen closely!
Forget your people and your father’s house.
11 Let the king desire your beauty.
Because he is your master, bow down to him now.
12 The city of Tyre, the wealthiest of all,
will seek your favor with gifts, 13 with riches of every sort
for the royal princess, dressed in pearls,[f]
her robe embroidered with gold.
14 In robes of many colors, she is led to the king.
Her attendants, the young women servants following her,
are presented to you as well.
15 As they enter the king’s palace,
they are led in with celebration and joy.
16 Your sons, great king, will succeed your fathers;[g]
you will appoint them as princes throughout the land.
17 I will perpetuate your name from one generation to the next
so the peoples will praise you forever and always.
Footnotes
- Psalm 44:1 Perhaps instruction
- Psalm 44:19 Or the sea monster(s)
- Psalm 45:1 Perhaps instruction
- Psalm 45:4 Heb uncertain
- Psalm 45:9 Syr; MT royal princess is among your precious ones.
- Psalm 45:13 Correction; Heb lacks for; Heb uncertain in 45:12-13.
- Psalm 45:16 Heb lacks great king.
Psalm 43-45
New International Version
Psalm 43-45
New International Version
Psalm 43[a]
1 Vindicate me, my God,
and plead my cause(A)
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me(B) from those who are
deceitful and wicked.(C)
2 You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected(D) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(E)
oppressed by the enemy?(F)
3 Send me your light(G) and your faithful care,(H)
let them lead me;(I)
let them bring me to your holy mountain,(J)
to the place where you dwell.(K)
4 Then I will go(L) to the altar(M) of God,
to God, my joy(N) and my delight.(O)
I will praise you with the lyre,(P)
O God, my God.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.(Q)
Psalm 44[b]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[c]
1 We have heard it with our ears,(R) O God;
our ancestors have told us(S)
what you did in their days,
in days long ago.(T)
2 With your hand you drove out(U) the nations
and planted(V) our ancestors;
you crushed(W) the peoples
and made our ancestors flourish.(X)
3 It was not by their sword(Y) that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand,(Z) your arm,(AA)
and the light(AB) of your face, for you loved(AC) them.
4 You are my King(AD) and my God,(AE)
who decrees[d] victories(AF) for Jacob.
5 Through you we push back(AG) our enemies;
through your name we trample(AH) our foes.
6 I put no trust in my bow,(AI)
my sword does not bring me victory;
7 but you give us victory(AJ) over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.(AK)
8 In God we make our boast(AL) all day long,(AM)
and we will praise your name forever.[e](AN)
9 But now you have rejected(AO) and humbled us;(AP)
you no longer go out with our armies.(AQ)
10 You made us retreat(AR) before the enemy,
and our adversaries have plundered(AS) us.
11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep(AT)
and have scattered us among the nations.(AU)
12 You sold your people for a pittance,(AV)
gaining nothing from their sale.
13 You have made us a reproach(AW) to our neighbors,(AX)
the scorn(AY) and derision(AZ) of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword(BA) among the nations;
the peoples shake their heads(BB) at us.
15 I live in disgrace(BC) all day long,
and my face is covered with shame(BD)
16 at the taunts(BE) of those who reproach and revile(BF) me,
because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.(BG)
17 All this came upon us,
though we had not forgotten(BH) you;
we had not been false to your covenant.
18 Our hearts had not turned(BI) back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
19 But you crushed(BJ) us and made us a haunt for jackals;(BK)
you covered us over with deep darkness.(BL)
20 If we had forgotten(BM) the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,(BN)
21 would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?(BO)
22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep(BP) to be slaughtered.(BQ)
23 Awake,(BR) Lord! Why do you sleep?(BS)
Rouse yourself!(BT) Do not reject us forever.(BU)
24 Why do you hide your face(BV)
and forget(BW) our misery and oppression?(BX)
25 We are brought down to the dust;(BY)
our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up(BZ) and help us;
rescue(CA) us because of your unfailing love.(CB)
Psalm 45[f]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[g] A wedding song.(CC)
1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,(CD)
since God has blessed you forever.(CE)
3 Gird your sword(CF) on your side, you mighty one;(CG)
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.(CH)
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously(CI)
in the cause of truth, humility and justice;(CJ)
let your right hand(CK) achieve awesome deeds.(CL)
5 Let your sharp arrows(CM) pierce the hearts(CN) of the king’s enemies;(CO)
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God,[h] will last for ever and ever;(CP)
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness(CQ) and hate wickedness;(CR)
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing(CS) you with the oil of joy.(CT)
8 All your robes are fragrant(CU) with myrrh(CV) and aloes(CW) and cassia;(CX)
from palaces adorned with ivory(CY)
the music of the strings(CZ) makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings(DA) are among your honored women;
at your right hand(DB) is the royal bride(DC) in gold of Ophir.(DD)
10 Listen, daughter,(DE) and pay careful attention:(DF)
Forget your people(DG) and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;(DH)
honor(DI) him, for he is your lord.(DJ)
12 The city of Tyre(DK) will come with a gift,[i](DL)
people of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious(DM) is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.(DN)
14 In embroidered garments(DO) she is led to the king;(DP)
her virgin companions(DQ) follow her—
those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,(DR)
they enter the palace of the king.
16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes(DS) throughout the land.
Footnotes
- Psalm 43:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
- Psalm 44:1 In Hebrew texts 44:1-26 is numbered 44:2-27.
- Psalm 44:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 44:4 Septuagint, Aquila and Syriac; Hebrew King, O God; / command
- Psalm 44:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 45:1 In Hebrew texts 45:1-17 is numbered 45:2-18.
- Psalm 45:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 45:6 Here the king is addressed as God’s representative.
- Psalm 45:12 Or A Tyrian robe is among the gifts
Psalm 43-45
King James Version
Psalm 43-45
King James Version
43 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
2 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
44 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
2 How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
4 Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
5 Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
7 But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
9 But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
10 Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
11 Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
12 Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
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 heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
15 My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
16 For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
18 Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
19 Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.
45 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
2 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
9 Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
13 The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
15 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.
16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
17 I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.