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Psalm 44:16

at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.

14You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples.
15All day long my dishonor is before me, and shame covers my face,
16at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.
17All this has come on us, yet we haven’t forgotten you. We haven’t been false to your covenant.
18Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path,
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← Psalm 44:15Psalm 44:17 →
Notice

The enemy’s taunt turns public scorn into personal shame, while the surrounding lines describe people who still hold to God’s covenant.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What words of reproach have stayed with you, as the taunt stays with the speaker here?

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How does the claim of covenant faithfulness in the surrounding lines shape your reading of this shame?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

8 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 8:2From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.Both name “the enemy and the avenger,” with Psalm 44 describing their taunts and Psalm 8 describing God’s strength to silence them.
Zechariah 8:13It shall come to pass that, as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Don’t …Psalm 44’s surrounding lines describe disgrace among the nations; Zechariah addresses people who were a curse among the nations and promises salvation.
Psalm 74:18Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, LORD. Foolish people have blasphemed your name.Both name an enemy’s mockery, directed against the speaker in Psalm 44 and against the LORD in Psalm 74.
Psalm 74:10How long, God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?Both describe reproach from an enemy; Psalm 74 asks how long it will continue against God’s name.
Psalm 74:22–23Arise, God! Plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.Both bring mockery before God, while Psalm 74 asks him to arise and plead his own cause.
Isaiah 37:3–4They said to him, “Hezekiah says, ‘Today is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of rejection; for the children have come to the birth, and there is no …Both passages describe distress under reproach, with Psalm 44 naming taunts and Isaiah naming a day of rebuke.
Isaiah 37:23–24Whom have you defied and blasphemed? Against whom have you exalted your voice and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel.Both describe hostile speech, though Isaiah names the Holy One of Israel as the one being defied.
Isaiah 37:17Turn your ear, LORD, and hear. Open your eyes, LORD, and behold. Hear all of the words of Sennacherib, who has sent to defy the living God.Both bring an enemy’s hostile words into prayer; Isaiah asks God to hear Sennacherib’s defiance of the living God.
Where this verse fits

Injustice and anger. work conflict. church hurt.

What the Bible says about anger →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Name hurtful words before God in prayer

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Encouragement

Faithfulness to God does not make cruel words painless. Here, people who have kept his covenant bring their shame into prayer, with no relief yet in view.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 44:16. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 44 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).