1 A Psalme to give instruction, committed to Asaph. O God, why hast thou put vs away for euer? why is thy wrath kindled against the sheepe of thy pasture? 2 Thinke vpon thy Congregation, which thou hast possessed of olde, and on the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed, and on this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt. 3 Lift vp thy strokes, that thou mayest for euer destroy euery enemie that doeth euill to the Sanctuarie. 4 Thine aduersaries roare in the middes of thy Congregation, and set vp their banners for signes. 5 He that lifted the axes vpon the thicke trees, was renowmed, as one, that brought a thing to perfection: 6 But nowe they breake downe the carued worke thereof with axes and hammers. 7 They haue cast thy Sanctuarie into the fire, and rased it to the grounde, and haue defiled the dwelling place of thy Name. 8 They saide in their hearts, Let vs destroy them altogether: they haue burnt all the Synagogues of God in the land. 9 We see not our signes: there is not one Prophet more, nor any with vs that knoweth howe long. 10 O God, howe long shall the aduersarie reproche thee? shall the enemie blaspheme thy Name for euer? 11 Why withdrawest thou thine hand, euen thy right hand? drawe it out of thy bosome, and consume them. 12 Euen God is my King of olde, working saluation in the middes of the earth. 13 Thou didest deuide the sea by thy power: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. 14 Thou brakest the head of Liuiathan in pieces, and gauest him to be meate for the people in wildernesse. 15 Thou brakest vp the fountaine and riuer: thou dryedst vp mightie riuers. 16 The day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sunne. 17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter. 18 Remember this, that the enemie hath reproched the Lord, and the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name. 19 Giue not the soule of thy turtle doue vnto the beast, and forget not the Congregation of thy poore for euer. 20 Consider thy couenant: for the darke places of the earth are full of the habitations of the cruell. 21 Oh let not the oppressed returne ashamed, but let the poore and needie prayse thy Name. 22 Arise, O God: mainteine thine owne cause: remember thy dayly reproche by the foolish man. 23 Forget not the voyce of thine enemies: for the tumult of them, that rise against thee, ascendeth continually.
A Prayer for National Deliverance
1 Why have you abandoned us like this, O God?
Will you be angry with your own people forever?
2 Remember your people, whom you chose for yourself long ago,
whom you brought out of slavery to be your own tribe.
Remember Mount Zion, where once you lived.
3 Walk over these total ruins;
our enemies have destroyed everything in the Temple.
4 Your enemies have shouted in triumph in your Temple;
they have placed their flags there as signs of victory.
5 They looked like woodsmen
cutting down trees with their axes.
6 They smashed all the wooden panels
with their axes and sledge hammers.
7 They wrecked your Temple and set it on fire;
they desecrated the place where you are worshiped.
8 They wanted to crush us completely;
they burned down every holy place in the land.
9 All our sacred symbols are gone;
there are no prophets left,
and no one knows how long this will last.
10 How long, O God, will our enemies laugh at you?
Will they insult your name forever?
11 Why have you refused to help us?
Why do you keep your hands behind you?
12 But you have been our king from the beginning, O God;
you have saved us many times.
13 With your mighty strength you divided the sea
and smashed the heads of the sea monsters;
14 you crushed the heads of the monster Leviathan
and fed his body to desert animals.
15 You made springs and fountains flow;
you dried up large rivers.
16 You created the day and the night;
you set the sun and the moon in their places;
17 you set the limits of the earth;
you made summer and winter.
18 But remember, O Lord, that your enemies laugh at you,
that they are godless and despise you.
19 Don't abandon your helpless people to their cruel enemies;
don't forget your persecuted people!
20 Remember the covenant you made with us.
There is violence in every dark corner of the land.
21 Don't let the oppressed be put to shame;
let those poor and needy people praise you.
22 Rouse yourself, God, and defend your cause!
Remember that godless people laugh at you all day long.
23 Don't forget the angry shouts of your enemies,
the continuous noise made by your foes.