Maschil of Asaph
. O God
, why hast thou cast us off
for ever
? why doth thine anger
smoke
against the sheep
of thy pasture
?
Remember thy congregation
, which thou hast purchased
of old
; the rod
of thine inheritance
, which thou hast redeemed
; this mount
Zion
, wherein thou hast dwelt
.
Lift up thy feet
unto the perpetual
desolations
; even all that the enemy
hath done wickedly
in the sanctuary
.
Thine enemies roar
in the midst
of thy congregations
; they set up
their ensigns
for signs
.
A man was famous according as he had lifted up
axes
upon the thick
trees
.
But now they break down the carved work
thereof at once
with axes
and hammers
.
They have cast fire
into thy sanctuary
, they have defiled
by casting down the dwelling place
of thy name
to the ground
.
They said in their hearts
, Let us destroy
them together
: they have burned up
all the synagogues
of God
in the land
.
We see not our signs
: there is no more any prophet
: neither is there among us any that knoweth
how long
.
O God, how long shall the adversary
reproach
? shall the enemy
blaspheme
thy name
for ever
?
Why withdrawest thou thy hand
, even thy right hand
? pluck
it out of
thy bosom
.
For God is my King
of old
, working
salvation
in the midst
of the earth
.
Thou didst divide the sea
by thy strength
: thou brakest
the heads
of the dragons
in the waters
.
Thou brakest the heads
of leviathan
in pieces, and gavest
him to be meat
to the people
inhabiting the wilderness
.
Thou didst cleave the fountain
and the flood
: thou driedst up
mighty
rivers
.
The day is thine, the night
also is thine: thou hast prepared
the light
and the sun
.
Thou hast set all the borders
of the earth
: thou hast made
summer
and winter
.
Remember this, that the enemy
hath reproached
, O LORD
, and that the foolish
people
have blasphemed
thy name
.
O deliver not the soul
of thy turtledove
unto the multitude
of the wicked : forget
not the congregation
of thy poor
for ever
.
Have respect unto the covenant
: for the dark
places of the earth
are full
of the habitations
of cruelty
.
O let not the oppressed return
ashamed
: let the poor
and needy
praise
thy name
.
Arise, O God
, plead
thine own cause
: remember
how the foolish man
reproacheth
thee daily
.
Forget not the voice
of thine enemies
: the tumult
of those that rise up
against thee increaseth
continually
.