Psalms 44:1

For the music director; by the Korahites, a well-written song. ²  O God, we have clearly heard; ³  our ancestors ⁴  have told us what you did ⁵  in their days, in ancient times. ⁶ 

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.

<<For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.>> O God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us The work that You did in their days, In the days of old.

<<For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.>> O God, we have heard it with our own ears––our ancestors have told us of all you did in other days, in days long ago:

We've been hearing about this, God, all our lives. Our fathers told us the stories their fathers told them,

<To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah Maschil.> It has come to our ears, O God, our fathers have given us the story, of the works which you did in their days, in the old times,

We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:

<<To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah.>> We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, The deeds You did in their days, In days of old:

For the music director; by the Korahites, a well-written song. ²  O God, we have clearly heard; ³  our ancestors ⁴  have told us what you did ⁵  in their days, in ancient times. ⁶ 

¹ sn Psalm 44. The speakers in this psalm (the worshiping community within the nation Israel) were disappointed with God. The psalm begins on a positive note, praising God for leading Israel to past military victories. Verses 1-8 appear to be a song of confidence and petition which the people recited prior to battle. But suddenly the mood changes as the nation laments a recent defeat. The stark contrast between the present and the past only heightens the nation’s confusion. Israel trusted in God for victory, but the Lord rejected them and allowed them to be humiliated in battle. If Israel had been unfaithful to God, their defeat would make sense, but the nation was loyal to the Lord. Comparing the Lord to a careless shepherd, the nation urges God to wake up and to extend his compassion to his suffering people.

² tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. See the note on the phrase “well-written song” in the superscription of Ps 42.

³ tn Heb “with our ears we have heard.”

⁴ tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 2; the same Hebrew word may be translated either “fathers” or “ancestors” depending on the context.

⁵ tn Heb “the work you worked.”

⁶ tn Heb “in the days of old.” This refers specifically to the days of Joshua, during Israel’s conquest of the land, as vv. 2-3 indicate.