1
A maskil* of◦ Asaph.
O God, why dost Thou cast· us ·off perpetually?
why does Thine anger smoke against◦ the flock of Thy pasture?
2
Remember Thy congregation,
which Thou hast bought in ancient times,
which Thou hast redeemed for the tribe◦ of Thine inheritance;
This is Mount Zion, in it Thou hast abided◦.
3
Exalt Thy footsteps to the perpetual vastations,
the enemy has done··evil to all things in the sanctuary.
4
Thine adversaries have roared in the midst◦ of Thy solemn··occasions;
they have set their own signs for signs.
5
He is known as one who brings upward
axes◦ into a thicket of trees.
6
And now her engravings
they pound··down together with hatchet and mauls.
7
They have set Thy sanctuary on◦ fire;
they have profaned to the earth the habitation of Thy name.
8
They said in their heart, Let us exploit them together;
they have burned··up all the solemn places of God◦ in the land.
9
We see not our signs, there is no more a prophet;
neither is there with◦ us one who knows how▵ long.
10
How▵ long, O God, shall the adversary reproach?
Shall the enemy disdain Thy name perpetually?
11
Why turnest· Thou ·back Thy hand, and Thy right··hand?
Out··of the midst◦ of Thy bosom consume··all!
12
But God is my king from ancient times,
working salvation in the midst◦ of the earth.
13
Thou◦ didst rupture the sea by Thy strength;
Thou breakest the heads of the whales on the waters.
14
Thou◦ didst fracture the heads of Leviathan;
Thou gavest him to be food for the people, for the Tsiim.*
15
Thou◦ didst split··open a fountain and a brook;
Thou◦ didst dry··up the rivers of strength◦.
16
To Thee is the day, also◦ to Thee is the night;
Thou◦ hast prepared the light and the sun.
17
Thou◦ hast set··up all the borders of the earth;
summer and winter, Thou◦ hast formed them.
18
Remember this, the enemy has reproached Jehovah,
and a foolish people has disdained Thy name.
19
O give not the soul of Thy turtledove to the wild··animal;
forget not the life of Thine afflicted, perpetually.
20
Look to the covenant;
for the darknesses of the earth are··full of the homes of violence.
21
Let not the contrite return humiliated;
let the afflicted and needy praise Thy name.
22
Arise, O God, plead Thy plea;
remember Thy reproach from a fool all the day.
23
Thou shalt not forget the voice of Thine adversaries;
the uproar of those who rise··up··against Thee, going··up continually.
