Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
Ps 44 This national lament after defeat in battle continues the tone of the previous two psalms, including reflecting on an unspecified moment in Israel’s history and calling on God for salvation. The people recite God’s past acts of rescue (44:1-3), acknowledge God’s power to save (44:4-8), describe their humiliation in exile (44:9-16), claim their innocence and lament the injustice of their current situation (44:17-22), and cry for vindication (44:23-26). 44:1 we have heard . . . of all you did: The story of redemption encompasses the story of God’s favor and power in his past acts of rescue (see 78:1-4; see also Pss 105–106).
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
Ps 44 This national lament after defeat in battle continues the tone of the previous two psalms, including reflecting on an unspecified moment in Israel’s history and calling on God for salvation. The people recite God’s past acts of rescue (44:1-3), acknowledge God’s power to save (44:4-8), describe their humiliation in exile (44:9-16), claim their innocence and lament the injustice of their current situation (44:17-22), and cry for vindication (44:23-26). 44:1 we have heard . . . of all you did: The story of redemption encompasses the story of God’s favor and power in his past acts of rescue (see 78:1-4; see also Pss 105–106).
Literal English (Darby)ⓘThe Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.The Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.
O God, with our ears have we heard, our fathers have told us, the work thou wroughtest in their days, in the days of old:
Hebrew (Masoretic Text)ⓘThe Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.The Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֬רַח מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃
King James VersionⓘKing James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, What work thou didst in their days, In the days of old.
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, in the days of old.
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.
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,