Psalm 44:1
New International Version
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.

New Living Translation
O God, we have heard it with our own ears— our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago:

English Standard Version
O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:

Berean Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us the work You did in their days, in the days of old.

King James Bible
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. 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.

New King James Version
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:

New American Standard Bible
For the music director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. 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.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
O God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us, The work that Thou didst in their days, In the days of old.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the choir director. Of the sons of Korah. A Maskil. O God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have recounted to us The work that You did in their days, In the days of old.

Amplified Bible
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem. We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us The work You did in their days, In the days of old.

Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. God, we have heard with our ears — our ancestors have told us — the work you accomplished in their days, in days long ago:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. God, we have heard with our ears— our ancestors have told us— the work You accomplished in their days, in days long ago:

American Standard Version
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Maschil. 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.

Contemporary English Version
Our God, our ancestors told us what wonders you worked and we listened carefully.

English Revised Version
For the Chief Musician; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Maschil. 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[For the choir director; a [maskil] by Korah's descendants.] O God, we have heard it with our own ears. Our ancestors have told us about the miracle you performed in their day, in days long ago.

Good News Translation
With our own ears we have heard it, O God--our ancestors have told us about it, about the great things you did in their time, in the days of long ago:

International Standard Version
God, we heard it with our ears; our ancestors told us about what you did in their day— a long time ago.

Majority Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us the work You did in their days, in the days of old.

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

New Heart English Bible
[For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm.] We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days, in the days of old.

Webster's Bible Translation
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. 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.

World English Bible
For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm. We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, in the days of old.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
TO THE OVERSEER. AN INSTRUCTION OF THE SONS OF KORAH. O God, we have heard with our ears, "" Our fathers have recounted to us, "" The work You worked in their days, "" In the days of old.

Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. An Instruction. O God, with our ears we have heard, Our fathers have recounted to us, The work Thou didst work in their days, In the days of old.

Smith's Literal Translation
To the overseer for the sons of Korah: of instruction. O God, with our ears we heard; our fathers recounted to us the work thou didst in their days, in days of old.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, for the sons of Core, to give understanding. We have heard, O God, with our ears : our fathers have declared to us, The work, thou hast wrought in their days, and in the days of old.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Unto the end. To the sons of Korah, toward understanding.

New American Bible
O God, we have heard with our own ears; our ancestors have told us The deeds you did in their days, with your own hand in days of old:

New Revised Standard Version
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:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
WE have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us what work thou hast wrought in their days, in the times of old;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Oh God, we have heard with our ears, also our fathers related to us what you did in their days, in the former days:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For the Leader; [a Psalm] of the sons of Korah. Maschil. O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us; A work Thou didst in their days, in the days of old.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the end, a Psalm for instruction, for the sons of Core. O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, the work which thou wroughtest in their days, in the days of old.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Redeem Us
1For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us the work You did in their days, in the days of old. 2With Your hand You drove out the nations and planted our fathers there; You crushed the peoples and cast them out.…

Cross References
Exodus 10:2
and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how severely I dealt with the Egyptians when I performed miraculous signs among them, so that all of you may know that I am the LORD.”

Deuteronomy 6:20-25
In the future, when your son asks, “What is the meaning of the decrees and statutes and ordinances that the LORD our God has commanded you?” / then you are to tell him, “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. / Before our eyes the LORD inflicted great and devastating signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his household. ...

Joshua 4:6-7
to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ / you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.”

Judges 6:13
“Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonders of which our fathers told us, saying, ‘Has not the LORD brought us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”

1 Chronicles 16:12
Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

Psalm 78:3-4
that we have heard and known and our fathers have relayed to us. / We will not hide them from their children but will declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD and His might and the wonders He has performed.

Psalm 105:5
Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

Isaiah 38:19
The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness.

Joel 1:3
Tell it to your children; let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.

Acts 7:2-53
And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, / and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’ / So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living. ...

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

Hebrews 11:1-40
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. / This is why the ancients were commended. / By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. ...

2 Timothy 3:14-15
But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. / From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Peter 1:12-15
Therefore I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have. / I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body, / because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ...


Treasury of Scripture

We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days, in the times of old.

A.

Psalm 42:1
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

have heard

Psalm 22:31
They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Psalm 71:18
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

Psalm 78:3-6
Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us…

in the times

Numbers 21:14-16,27-30
Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, …

Job 8:8,9
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: …

Job 15:17-19
I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare; …

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Ago Chief Choirmaster Contemplative Deeds Director Ears Fathers Heard Instruction Korah Leader Maschil Maschil&Gt Maskil Music Musician Music-Maker Perform Psalm Story Times Work Works
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Psalm 44
1. The church, in memory of former favors
7. complains of her present evils
17. professing her integrity,
24. she fervently prays for helpfulness














We have heard
The phrase "We have heard" indicates a communal memory and oral tradition among the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "heard" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just hearing but understanding and obeying. This suggests that the knowledge of God's past deeds was not only known but was also meant to be internalized and acted upon. Historically, this reflects the importance of oral tradition in ancient Israelite culture, where accounts of God's faithfulness were passed down through generations, reinforcing their identity and faith.

with our ears
The phrase "with our ears" emphasizes the personal and direct reception of these stories. It underscores the importance of firsthand testimony and the role of the senses in experiencing and understanding God's actions. In a historical context, this highlights the communal gatherings where such accounts were recounted, possibly during festivals or religious ceremonies, ensuring that each generation was connected to the divine narrative.

O God
The invocation "O God" is a direct address to the deity, indicating a personal relationship and reverence. The Hebrew word for God here is "אֱלֹהִים" (Elohim), a plural form that denotes majesty and power. This reflects the Israelites' understanding of God as the supreme being, worthy of worship and the source of their history and identity. It also sets the tone for the psalm as a prayer or lament directed towards a powerful and personal God.

our fathers have told us
This phrase highlights the role of the patriarchs and the responsibility of each generation to pass down the knowledge of God's works. The Hebrew word for "fathers" is "אָבוֹת" (avot), which can refer to ancestors or forefathers. This emphasizes the continuity of faith and the importance of family and community in preserving and transmitting religious beliefs. It also reflects the biblical mandate for parents to teach their children about God's laws and deeds, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:7.

the work You did
The phrase "the work You did" refers to the mighty acts of God in history, particularly those that established Israel as a nation. The Hebrew word for "work" is "פֹּעַל" (po'al), which can mean deed or action. This underscores the belief in a God who is actively involved in the world and in the lives of His people. Historically, this would include events such as the Exodus, the conquest of Canaan, and other miraculous interventions that demonstrated God's power and faithfulness.

in their days
The phrase "in their days" situates God's actions within a specific historical context, emphasizing that these were real events experienced by real people. It highlights the temporal nature of God's interventions and the idea that God acts within human history. This serves as a reminder to the current generation of the enduring relevance of these past events and God's ongoing involvement in the world.

in days of old
The phrase "in days of old" evokes a sense of antiquity and tradition, connecting the present generation with their ancient heritage. It suggests a long-standing relationship between God and His people, rooted in history and tradition. This phrase serves to remind the Israelites of their identity as a people chosen and sustained by God throughout the ages, encouraging them to trust in His continued faithfulness.

(1) We have heard.--The glorious traditions of ancient deliverances wrought by Jehovah for His people were a sacred heritage of every Hebrew. (See Exodus 10:2; Exodus 12:26, seq.; Deuteronomy 6:20, etc.) This, and all the historical psalms, show how closely interwoven for the Jew were patriotism and religion.

Verse 1. - 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. The Law required all Israelites to teach their children the past history of the nation, and especially the mercies which had been vouchsafed to it (see Exodus 10:2; Exodus 12:26, 27; Exodus 13:8, 10, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For the choirmaster.
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ (lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5329: To glitter from afar, to be eminent, to be permanent

A Maskil
מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃ (maś·kîl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4905: Instructive, a didactic poem

of the sons
לִבְנֵי־ (liḇ·nê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Korah.
קֹ֬רַח (qō·raḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7141: Korah -- an Edomite name, also an Israelite name

We have heard
שָׁמַ֗עְנוּ (šā·ma‘·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

with our ears,
בְּאָזְנֵ֬ינוּ (bə·’ā·zə·nê·nū)
Preposition-b | Noun - fdc | first person common plural
Strong's 241: Broadness, the ear

O God;
אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

our fathers
אֲבוֹתֵ֥ינוּ (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 1: Father

have told us
סִפְּרוּ־ (sip·pə·rū-)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate

the work
פֹּ֥עַל (pō·‘al)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6467: Doing, deed, work

You did
פָּעַ֥לְתָּ (pā·‘al·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6466: To do, make, to practise

in their days,
בִֽ֝ימֵיהֶ֗ם (ḇî·mê·hem)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

in days
בִּ֣ימֵי (bî·mê)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of long ago.
קֶֽדֶם׃ (qe·ḏem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6924: The front, of place, time


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OT Poetry: Psalm 44:1 For the Chief Musician (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 43:5
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