1 A contemplative song of Asaph. Why have You cast us off forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the flock of Your pasture?
2 Remember Your congregation, which You purchased of old, redeemed as the tribe of Your inheritance, and Mount Zion, where You dwelt.
3 Lift Your steps toward the perpetual ruins— an enemy has done all evil to the Sanctuary!
4 Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place. They have set up their standards as signs.
5 It seemed like bringing up axes into a thicket of trees—
6 and now all its carved work they smash with hatchet and hammers!
7 They set Your Sanctuary on fire, burning it to the ground. They defiled the dwelling place of Your Name.
8 They said in their hearts: “Let us crush them totally!” They burned down all the meeting places of God in the land.
9 We do not see our signs. No longer is there any prophet— and no one among us knows how long.
10 How long, O God, will the adversary mock? Will the enemy revile Your Name forever?
11 Why do You hold back Your hand, Your right hand? Draw it out of Your bosom and consume them!
12 Yet God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the land.
13 You split the sea with Your power. You smashed the monsters’ heads in the waters.
14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan, giving him as food to the desert dwellers.
15 You opened up spring and brook. You dried up ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is Yours, the night also is Yours. You provided moon and sun.
17 You set all the borders of earth. You made summer and winter.
18 Remember how the enemy mocked, Adonai, and how foolish people despised Your Name.
19 Do not deliver Your turtledove’s soul to the wild beast. Do not forget the life of Your afflicted ones forever.
20 Look upon the covenant— for haunts of violence fill the dark places of earth.
21 Do not let the oppressed turn back in shame. But let the poor and needy praise Your Name.
22 Rise up O God, and defend Your cause. Remember how the fool mocks You all day.
23 Do not forget the noise of Your foes, the uproar of those rising up against You, ascending continually.