Psalms 44

“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 verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast…” The line’s distinctive content terms include didst, afflict, drive. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.” Naming Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.” Naming Through keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.” The line’s distinctive content terms include enemies, hated, saved. Its relationship to verses 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.” Naming Selah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.” The line’s distinctive content terms include armies, goest, shame. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,” The line’s distinctive content terms include confusion, continually, covered. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;” Naming Our keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.” Naming Though keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.” Naming Yea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.” Naming Arise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.