1 Why, O God, have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger fume against the flock of your pasture?
2 Remember your congregation, which you bought in days of old, which you redeemed as the tribe of your inheritance, this Mount Zion where you have lived.
3 Raise your feet toward the endless ruins, all the evil the enemy has done in the holy place.
4 Your foes have roared within your meeting place; they have set up their emblems as signs.
5 It looks as when one raises axes high in a thicket of trees.
6 And now its carvings, all together, they beat down with axe and hammers.
7 They have sent your sanctuary up in flames; to the ground they have defiled the dwelling of your name.
8 They said in their hearts, "Let us oppress them all together." They have burned every meeting place of God in the land.
9 Our signs we do not see; there is no prophet anymore, nor anyone among us who knows for how long.
10 Until when, O God, will the foe revile? Shall the enemy scorn your name for good?
11 Why do you draw back your hand, your right hand? Take it from your bosom and destroy them!
12 But God is my King from ancient times, who does saving deeds in the middle of the earth.
13 You split the sea by your might; you shattered the heads of the dragons upon the waters.
14 You smashed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food to the people of the desert.
15 You broke open fountain and stream; you dried up mighty rivers.
16 Yours is the day, and yours the night as well; you set in place the light and the sun.
17 You fixed all the borders of the earth; summer and winter, you made them.
18 Remember this: the enemy has reviled, O LORD, and a senseless people has scorned your name.
19 Do not hand over the soul of your dove to the beast; do not forget the life of your poor forever.
20 Have regard for the covenant, for the dark corners of the land are full of the dwellings of violence.
21 Let not the crushed one go back disgraced; let the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Rise up, O God, defend your cause; remember the fool's reproach against you all day long.
23 Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the tumult of your opponents that rises ever higher.