The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook ‎#P44

P44. O God, we with our ears have heard

1 O God, we with our ears have heard,
our fathers have us told,
the work that in their days thou didst
even in the days of old.
2 Thy hand did drive the heathen out,
and plant them in their place;
the nations all thou didst afflict,
but them thou didst increase.

3 For neither got their sword the land,
nor did their arm them save;
but thy right hand, arm, countenance;
for God them favour gave.
4 Thou art my King: for Jacob, Lord,
deliverances command.
5 Through thee we shall push down our foes,
that do against us stand:

We, through thy name, shall tread down those
that risen against us have.
6 For in my bow I shall not trust,
nor shall my sword me save.
7 But from our foes thou hast us saved,
our haters put to shame.
8 In God we all the day do boast,
and ever praise thy name.

9 But now we are cast off by thee,
thou puttest us to shame;
and when our armies forth do go,
thou goest not with them.
10 Thou mak’st us from the enemy
to turn back in dismay;
and they, who hate us, for themselves
our spoils do take away.

11 Like sheep for meat thou gavest us,
’mong heathen cast we be.
12 Thou didst for nought thy people sell;
their price enriched not thee.
13 Unto our neighbours a reproach
we have been made be thee;
derision and a scorn to those
that round about us be.

14 A by-word also thou dost us
among the heathen make;
the people, in contempt and spite,
at us their heads do shake.
15 Before me my confusion doth
abide continually,
and of my countenance the shame
doth wholly cover me.

16 For voice of him that doth reproach,
and speaketh blasphemy;
because of the avenging foe,
and cruel enemy.
17 All this is come on us, yet we
have not forgotten thee;
nor falsely in thy covenant
behaved ourselves have we.

18 Back from thy way turned not our hearts,
from thee we have not strayed;
19 though crushed by thee in dragons’ haunts,
and covered with death’s shade.
20 If we God’s name forgot, or stretched
to a strange god our hands,
21 shall not God search this out? for he
heart's secrets understands.

22 Yea, for thy sake we’re killed all day,
counted as slaughter-sheep.
23 Rise, Lord, cast us not ever off,
awake, why dost thou sleep?
24 O wherefore hidest thou thy face?
forgett’st our cause distressed,
25 and our oppression? For our soul
down to the dust is pressed.

Our body also on the earth
fast cleaving hold doth take.
26 Rise for our help, and us redeem,
even for thy mercies’ sake.

Text Information

• First Line: O God, we with our ears have heard
• Meter: DCM
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2004
• Scripture:
  Psalm 44

Tune Information

• Name: OLD 44TH
• Harmonizer: David Evans, 1874-1948
• Meter: DCM
• Key: A♭ Major
• Source: Anglo-Genevan Psalter, 1556