with our ears we heard From here you learn that the sons of Korah were speaking for the generations following them, for if it were for themselves, they should not say, “our fathers told us,” because they themselves witnessed the miracles of the desert, the Jordan, and Joshua’s war. In this manner, it is explained in the Aggadah of Psalms (Mid. Ps. 44:1).

You inflicted harm on kingdoms You inflicted harm on the seven great nations, You sent them out from before us, and with Your hand and Your strength You drove them out of their land and planted our forefathers in its midst.

You favored them Heb. רציתם, an expression of favor.

command the salvations of Jacob Now too.

we will trample those who rise up against us Heb. נבוס. We will tread and trample our enemies, an expression of (Ezek. 16:6): “wallowing (מתבוססת) in your blood”; (Prov. 27:7), “tramples (תבוס) honeycomb”; (Zech. 10:5), “And they shall be like mighty men, treading (בוסים) the mire of the streets.”

Even if You have forsaken us and put us to shame Even if You put us to shame, we will forever thank Your name.

You make us retreat Heb. תשיבנו. This is a present tense.

plunder for themselves They plunder our property, each man for himself.

You scatter us Epondis nous in Old French, tu nous repandis in modern French.

when You crushed us in a place of serpents This כי serves as an expression of כאשר, when. Even when You humbled us in a land of plains and pits; [in] a desert, a place of serpents, and You covered us with the darkness of death - despite all this, if we forgot the name of our God, will God not search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

as sheep for the slaughter As sheep of slaughter.

and redeem us for the sake of Your kindness We do not come with the power of our deeds, but do [this] for the sake of Your kindness.