Hymnal & Psalter

1 O God, we with our ears have heard, our fathers have us told, What works thou in their days hadst done, ev'n in the days of old. 2 Thy hand did drive the heathen out, and plant them in their place; Thou didst afflict the nätions, but them thou didst increase. 3 For neither got their sword the land, nor did their arm them save; But thy right hand, arm, countenance; for thou them favor gave. 4 Thou art my King: for Jacob, Lord, deliv'rances command. 5 Through thee we shall push down our foes, that do against us stand: We, through thy name, shall tread down those that ris'n against us have. 6 For in my bow I shall not trust, nor shall my sword me save. 7 But from our foes thou hast us saved, our haters put to shame. 8 In God we all the day do boast, and ever praise thy name. 9 But now we are cast off by thee, and us thou putt'st to shame; And when our armies do go forth, thou go'st not with the same. 10 Thou mak'st us from the enemy, faint-hearted, to turn back; And they who hate us for themselves our spoils away do take. 11 Like sheep for meat thou gavest us; 'mong heathen cast we be. 12 Thou didst for naught thy people sell; their price enriched not thee. 13 Thou mak'st us a reproach to be unto our neighbors near; Derision and a scorn to them that round about us are. 14 A by-word also thou dost us among the heathen make; The people, in contempt and spite, at us their heads do shake. 15 Before me my confüsion continually abides; And of my bashful countenance the shame me ever hides: 16 For voice of him that doth reproach, and speaketh blasphemy; By reason of th' avenging foe, and cruel enemy. 17 All this is come on us, yet we have not forgotten thee; Nor falsely in thy covenant behaved ourselves have we. 18 Back from thy way our heart not turned; our steps no straying made; 19 Though us thou brak'st in dragons' place, and cover'dst with death's shade. 20 If we God's name forgot, or stretched to a strange god our hands, 21 Shall not God search this out? for he heart's secrets understands. 22 Yea, for thy sake we're killed all day, counted as slaughter-sheep. 23 Rise, Lord, cast us not ever off; awake, why dost thou sleep? 24 O wherefore hidest thou thy face? forgett'st our cause distressed, 25 And our oppression? For our soul is to the dust down pressed: Our belly also on the earth fast cleaving, hold doth take. 26 Rise for our help, and us redeem, ev'n for thy mercies' sake.