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

4 T hose 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 acted like men taking up axes against a group of trees.

6 A ll of its fine work has been broken with axes and sticks.

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

8 T hey 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 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 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 take Your hand away, even Your right hand? Put it out and destroy them!

12 G od is still my King from long ago. He does saving works upon the earth.

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

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

15 I t 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. And the night is Yours. You have set the light and the sun in their places.

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

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

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

20 T hink about Your agreement. For the dark places of the land are full of fighting.

21 D o 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 R ise up, O God. Stand up for Your rights. Remember how the foolish man speaks against You all day long.

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