Psalms 44:10-14

44:10 You made us retreat ¹  from the enemy.

Those who hate us take whatever they want from us. ² 

44:11 You handed us ³  over like sheep to be eaten;

you scattered us among the nations.

44:12 You sold ⁴  your people for a pittance; ⁵ 

you did not ask a high price for them. ⁶ 

44:13 You made us ⁷  an object of disdain to our neighbors;

those who live on our borders taunt and insult us. ⁸ 

44:14 You made us ⁹  an object of ridicule ¹⁰  among the nations;

foreigners treat us with contempt. ¹¹ 

[44:10]  ¹ tn Heb “you caused us to turn backward.”

[44:10]  ² tn Heb “plunder for themselves.” The prepositional phrase לָמוֹ (lamo, “for themselves”) here has the nuance “at their will” or “as they please” (see Ps 80:6).

[44:11]  ³ tn The prefixed verbal form is a preterite (without vav [ו] consecutive).

[44:12]  ⁵ tn The prefixed verbal form is a preterite (without vav [ו] consecutive).

[44:12]  ⁶ tn Heb “for what is not wealth.”

[44:12]  ⁷ tn Heb “you did not multiply their purchase prices.”

[44:13]  ⁷ tn The prefixed verbal form is a preterite (without vav [ו] consecutive).

[44:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “an [object of] taunting and [of] mockery to those around us.”

[44:14]  ⁹ tn The prefixed verbal form is a preterite (without vav [ו] consecutive).

[44:14]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “a proverb,” or “[the subject of] a mocking song.”

[44:14]  ¹¹ tn Heb “a shaking of the head among the peoples.” Shaking the head was a derisive gesture (see Jer 18:16; Lam 2:15).