1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our forebears have told us, ♦
all that you did in their days, in time of old;
2 How with your hand you drove out nations and planted us in, ♦
and broke the power of peoples and set us free.
3 For not by their own sword did our ancestors take the land ♦
nor did their own arm save them,
4 But your right hand, your arm, and the light of your countenance, ♦
because you were gracious to them.
5 You are my King and my God, ♦
who commanded salvation for Jacob.
6 Through you we drove back our adversaries; ♦
through your name we trod down our foes.
7 For I did not trust in my bow; ♦
it was not my own sword that saved me;
8 It was you that saved us from our enemies ♦
and put our adversaries to shame.
9 We gloried in God all the day long, ♦
and were ever praising your name.
10 But now you have rejected us and brought us to shame, ♦
and go not out with our armies.
11 You have made us turn our backs on our enemies, ♦
and our enemies have despoiled us.
12 You have made us like sheep to be slaughtered, ♦
and have scattered us among the nations.
13 You have sold your people for a pittance ♦
and made no profit on their sale.
14 You have made us the taunt of our neighbours, ♦
the scorn and derision of those that are round about us.
15 You have made us a byword among the nations; ♦
among the peoples they wag their heads.
16 My confusion is daily before me, ♦
and shame has covered my face,
17 At the taunts of the slanderer and reviler, ♦
at the sight of the enemy and avenger.
18 All this has come upon us,
though we have not forgotten you ♦
and have not played false to your covenant.
19 Our hearts have not turned back, ♦
nor our steps gone out of your way,
20 Yet you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, ♦
and covered us with the shadow of death.
21 If we have forgotten the name of our God, ♦
or stretched out our hands to any strange god,
22 Will not God search it out? ♦
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
23 But for your sake are we killed all the day long, ♦
and are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
24 Rise up! Why sleep, O Lord? ♦
Awake, and do not reject us for ever.
25 Why do you hide your face ♦
and forget our grief and oppression?
26 Our soul is bowed down to the dust; ♦
our belly cleaves to the earth.
27 Rise up, O Lord, to help us ♦
and redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.