1 O God, why do You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger burn and smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

2 r emember Your congregation which You have acquired of old, which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your heritage; remember Mount Zion, where You have dwelt.

Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed— This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.

3 D irect Your feet to the perpetual ruins and desolations; the foe has devastated and desecrated everything in the sanctuary.

Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations. The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.

4 I n the midst of Your Holy Place Your enemies have roared; they set up their own emblems for signs.

Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; They set up their banners for signs.

5 T hey seemed like men who lifted up axes upon a thicket of trees to make themselves a record.

They seem like men who lift up Axes among the thick trees.

6 A nd then all the carved wood of the Holy Place they broke down with hatchets and hammers.

And now they break down its carved work, all at once, With axes and hammers.

7 T hey have set Your sanctuary on fire; they have profaned the dwelling place of Your Name by casting it to the ground.

They have set fire to Your sanctuary; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.

8 T hey said in their hearts, Let us make havoc altogether. They have burned up all God’s meetinghouses in the land.

They said in their hearts, “Let us destroy them altogether.” They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.

9 W e do not see our symbols; there is no longer any prophet, neither does any among us know for how long.

We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet; Nor is there any among us who knows how long.

10 O God, how long is the adversary to scoff and reproach? Is the enemy to blaspheme and revile Your name forever?

O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?

11 W hy do You hold back Your hand, even Your right hand? Draw it out of Your bosom and consume them!

Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.

12 Y et God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

For God is my King from of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 Y ou did divide the Sea by Your might; You broke the heads of the dragons in the waters.

You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.

14 Y ou crushed the heads of Leviathan (Egypt); You did give him as food for the creatures inhabiting the wilderness.

You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

15 Y ou did cleave open fountains and streams; You dried up mighty, ever-flowing rivers (the Jordan).

You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up mighty rivers.

16 T he day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have established the light and the sun.

The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun.

17 Y ou have fixed all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter.

You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter.

18 r emember how the enemy has scoffed, O Lord, and reproached You, and how a foolish and impious people has blasphemed Your name.

Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord, And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name.

19 O h, do not deliver the life of your turtledove to the wild beast (to the greedy multitude); forget not the life of Your poor forever.

Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast! Do not forget the life of Your poor forever.

20 H ave regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.

Have respect to the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.

21 O h, let not the downtrodden return in shame; let the oppressed and needy praise Your name.

Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your name.

22 A rise, O God, plead Your own cause; remember how the foolish and impious man scoffs and reproaches You day after day and all day long.

Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.

23 D o not forget the voices of Your adversaries, the tumult of those who rise up against You, which ascends continually.

Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.