| A Contemplation of Asaph. | |
| 1 | O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? |
| 2 | Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed— This Mount Zion where You have dwelt. |
| 3 | Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations. The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. |
| 4 | Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; They set up their banners for signs. |
| 5 | They seem like men who lift up Axes among the thick trees. |
| 6 | And now they break down its carved work, all at once, With axes and hammers. |
| 7 | They have set fire to Your sanctuary; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground. |
| 8 | They said in their hearts, “Let us destroy them altogether.” They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land. |
| 9 | We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet; Nor is there any among us who knows how long. |
| 10 | O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? |
| 11 | Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them. |
| 12 | For God is my King from of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth. |
| 13 | You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. |
| 14 | You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness. |
| 15 | You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up mighty rivers. |
| 16 | The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun. |
| 17 | You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter. |
| 18 | Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O LORD, And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name. |
| 19 | Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast! Do not forget the life of Your poor forever. |
| 20 | Have respect to the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty. |
| 21 | Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your name. |
| 22 | Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily. |
| 23 | Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually. |
