O God, we with our ears have heard

Verse 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.

Verse 2

Thy hand did drive the heathen out, and plant them in their place; Thou didst afflict the nätions, but them thou didst increase.

Verse 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.

Verse 4

Thou art my King: for Jacob, Lord, deliv'rances command.

Verse 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.

Verse 6

For in my bow I shall not trust, nor shall my sword me save.

Verse 7

But from our foes thou hast us saved, our haters put to shame.

Verse 8

In God we all the day do boast, and ever praise thy name.

Verse 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.

Verse 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.

Verse 11

Like sheep for meat thou gavest us; 'mong heathen cast we be.

Verse 12

Thou didst for naught thy people sell; their price enriched not thee.

Verse 13

Thou mak'st us a reproach to be unto our neighbors near; Derision and a scorn to them that round about us are.

Verse 14

A by-word also thou dost us among the heathen make; The people, in contempt and spite, at us their heads do shake.

Verse 15

Before me my confüsion continually abides; And of my bashful countenance the shame me ever hides:

Verse 16

For voice of him that doth reproach, and speaketh blasphemy; By reason of th' avenging foe, and cruel enemy.

Verse 17

All this is come on us, yet we have not forgotten thee; Nor falsely in thy covenant behaved ourselves have we.

Verse 18

Back from thy way our heart not turned; our steps no straying made;

Verse 19

Though us thou brak'st in dragons' place, and cover'dst with death's shade.

Verse 20

If we God's name forgot, or stretched to a strange god our hands,

Verse 21

Shall not God search this out? for he heart's secrets understands.

Verse 22

Yea, for thy sake we're killed all day, counted as slaughter-sheep.

Verse 23

Rise, Lord, cast us not ever off; awake, why dost thou sleep?

Verse 24

O wherefore hidest thou thy face? forgett'st our cause distressed,

Verse 25

And our oppression? For our soul is to the dust down pressed: Our belly also on the earth fast cleaving, hold doth take.

Verse 26

Rise for our help, and us redeem, ev'n for thy mercies' sake.