74

O God, why have You rejected us forever?
Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture?
Remember the nation You purchased long ago
The people of Your inheritance, whom You redeemed, the Eternal Master—

Mount Zion, where You dwelt
Do You remember it, Lord our God?
Turn Your steps toward these everlasting ruins
All this destruction on the sanctuary the enemy has brought

Your foes roared in the place where You met with us
They set up as signs their standards
They behaved like men wielding axes
To cut through a thicket of trees leading by their commanders

They smashed all the carved paneling
With their axes and hatchets, and with flame
They burned Your sanctuary to the ground
They defiled the dwelling place of Your Name

They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!”
They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land
We are given no signs from God
None of us knows how long this will be as no prophets are left

How long will the enemy mock you, God?
Will the foe revile Your name forever?
Why do You hold back Your hand, Your right hand?
Take it from the folds of Your garment and destroy them so they get back never!

But God is my King from long ago
He brings salvation on the earth, He supports us
It was You who split open the sea by Your power
You broke the heads of the monster in the waters

It was You who crushed the heads of Leviathan
And gave it as food to the creatures of the desert
It was You who opened up springs and streams
You dried up the ever-flowing rivers with Your effort

The day is Yours, and Yours also the night
You established the moon and sun
It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth
You made both summer and winter and time has begun

Remember how the enemy has mocked You, Lord
How foolish people have reviled Your name
Do not hand over the life of Your dove to wild beasts
Do not forget the lives of Your afflicted people forever, we’ll  not sin again

Have regard for Your covenant
Because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land
Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace
May the poor and needy praise Your name and hope to Your right hand

Rise up, O God, and defend Your cause
Remember how fools mock You all day long
Do not ignore the clamor of Your adversaries
The uproar of Your enemies, which rises continually cause You are gone