1O God, why have you cast us off for ever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
2Remember your congregation, which you bought long ago. Remember the tribe of your inheritance, which you have redeemed, and this Mount Zion, where you have lived.
3Lift up your feet and come to these ruins that never end, to all the evil the enemy has done in the sanctuary.
4Your enemies roar in the middle of your meeting places. They set up their own banners as signs.
5A man was known for lifting up axes against the thick trees.
6But now they smash all its carved work at once with axes and hammers.
7They have thrown fire into your sanctuary. They have defiled the dwelling place of your name, casting it down to the ground.
8They said in their hearts, "Let us destroy them all together." They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.
9We do not see our signs. There is no prophet any more. No one among us knows how long this will last.
10O God, how long will the enemy insult you? Will the enemy blaspheme your name for ever?
11Why do you pull back your hand, your right hand? Take it out from your chest.
12For God is my King from long ago, working salvation in the middle of the earth.
13You divided the sea by your strength. You broke the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14You broke the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gave him as food to the people living in the wilderness.
15You split open the spring and the stream. You dried up mighty rivers.
16The day is yours, the night also is yours. You have prepared the light and the sun.
17You have set all the borders of the earth. You have made summer and winter.
18Remember this, O LORD: the enemy has insulted you, and a foolish people have blasphemed your name.
19Do not hand over the soul of your dove to the crowd of the wicked. Do not forget the congregation of your poor for ever.
20Look to the covenant, for the dark places of the earth are full of the homes of cruelty.
21Do not let the oppressed go back ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name.
22Arise, O God, and plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man insults you every day.
23Do not forget the voice of your enemies. The uproar of those who rise up against you grows louder and louder.