1 G od, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?

O God, why have You turned away from us forever? Why does Your anger burn against the sheep in Your fields?

2 R emember your congregation, which you purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance; Mount Zion, in which you have lived.

Remember Your people that You bought a long time ago. You made them free to be the family of Your promise, and Mount Zion, where You have lived.

3 L ift up your feet to the perpetual ruins, all the evil that the enemy has done in the sanctuary.

Turn Your steps toward this place that has been destroyed forever. Those who hate You have destroyed all that is in the holy place.

4 Y our adversaries have roared in the middle of your assembly. They have set up their standards as signs.

Those who hate You have called out in the center of Your meeting place. They have set up their flags to show that they have won.

5 T hey behaved like men wielding axes, cutting through a thicket of trees.

They acted like men taking up axes against a group of trees.

6 N ow they break all its carved work down with hatchet and hammers.

All of its fine work has been broken with axes and sticks.

7 T hey have burned your sanctuary to the ground. They have profaned the dwelling place of your Name.

They have burned Your holy place to the dust. They have made dirty the house of Your name.

8 T hey said in their heart, “We will crush them completely.” They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.

They said in their hearts, “Let us destroy all of these places!” They have burned all the meeting places where God was worshiped in the land.

9 W e see no miraculous signs. There is no longer any prophet, neither is there among us anyone who knows how long.

We do not see any special things happening. There is no longer anyone who speaks for God. And none of us knows how long this will be.

10 H ow long, God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?

O God, how long will those who hate You laugh at the truth? Will they speak against Your name forever?

11 W hy do you draw back your hand, even your right hand? Take it out of your pocket and consume them!

Why do You take Your hand away, even Your right hand? Put it out and destroy them!

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

God is still my King from long ago. He does saving works upon the earth.

13 Y ou divided the sea by your strength. You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.

You divided the sea by Your power. You broke the heads of the large dragons in the waters.

14 Y ou broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces. You gave him as food to people and desert creatures.

You crushed the heads of the Leviathan. And You fed him to the animals of the desert.

15 Y ou opened up spring and stream. You dried up mighty rivers.

It was You Who opened up the earth for water to flow out. And You dried up rivers that flow forever.

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

The day is Yours. And the night is Yours. You have set the light and the sun in their places.

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

You have divided all the lands and seas and nations of the earth. You have made summer and winter.

18 R emember this, that the enemy has mocked you, Yahweh. Foolish people have blasphemed your name.

Remember how those who hate You have laughed at the truth, O Lord. Foolish people have spoken against Your name.

19 D on’t deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts. Don’t forget the life of your poor forever.

Do not give the life of Your dove over to the wild animal. Do not forget the lives of Your troubled people forever.

20 H onor your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth.

Think about Your agreement. For the dark places of the land are full of fighting.

21 D on’t let the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name.

Do not let those who suffer under a bad power return without honor. Let those who suffer and those who are in need praise Your name.

22 A rise, God! Plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.

Rise up, O God. Stand up for Your rights. Remember how the foolish man speaks against You all day long.

23 D on’t forget the voice of your adversaries. The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually.

Do not forget the voice of those who hate You, the noise that comes without stopping from those who rise against You.