Psalms 44:22

Yet because of you ¹  we are killed all day long; we are treated like ²  sheep at the slaughtering block. ³ 

1Sa 22:17-19; 1Ki 19:10; Ps 44:11; Ps 79:2,3; Mt 5:10-12; Joh 15:21; Joh 16:2,3; Ro 8:36; 1Co 4:9; 1Co 15:30,31; Re 11:3-9; Re 17:6

¹ tn The statement “because of you” (1) may simply indicate that God is the cause of the Israelites’ defeat (see vv. 9-14, where the nation’s situation is attributed directly to God’s activity, and cf. NEB, NRSV), or (2) it may suggest they suffer because of their allegiance to God (see Ps 69:7 and Jer 15:15). In this case one should translate, “for your sake” (cf. NASB, NIV). The citation of this verse in Rom 8:36 follows the LXX (Ps 43:23 LXX), where the Greek term ἕνεκεν (Jeneken; LXX ἕνεκα) may likewise mean “because of” or “for the sake of” (BDAG 334 s.v. ἕνεκα 1).

² tn Or “regarded as.”

³ tn Heb “like sheep of slaughtering,” that is, sheep destined for slaughter.