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

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

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

Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, Which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance; And this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt.

3 L ift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations. The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.

Turn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins; The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary.

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

Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place; They have set up their own standards for signs.

5 T hey seem like men who lift up Axes among the thick trees.

It seems as if one had lifted up His axe in a forest of trees.

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

And now all its carved work They smash with hatchet and hammers.

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

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

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

They said in their heart, “Let us completely subdue them.” They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

9 W e do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet; Nor is there any among us who knows 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 will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?

How long, O God, will the adversary revile, And the enemy spurn Your name forever?

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

Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? From within Your bosom, destroy them!

12 F or God is my King from of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

Yet God is my king from of old, Who works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth.

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

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

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

You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.

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

You broke open springs and torrents; You dried up ever-flowing streams.

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

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

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

You have established all the boundaries of the earth; You have made summer and winter.

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

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

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

Do not deliver the soul of Your turtledove to the wild beast; Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.

20 H ave respect to the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.

Consider the covenant; For the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.

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

Let not the oppressed return dishonored; Let the afflicted and needy praise Your name.

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

Arise, O God, and plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You all day long.

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

Do not forget the voice of Your adversaries, The uproar of those who rise against You which ascends continually.