1AN INSTRUCTION OF ASAPH. Why, O God, have You cast off forever? Your anger smokes against the flock of Your pasture.

2Remember Your congregation "" [That] You purchased of old, "" You redeemed the rod of Your inheritance, "" This Mount Zion—You dwelt in it.

3Lift up Your steps to the continuous desolations, "" Everything the enemy did wickedly in the sanctuary.

4Your adversaries have roared, "" In the midst of Your meeting-places, "" They have set their ensigns as ensigns.

5He is known as one bringing in on high "" Against a thicket of wood—axes.

6And now they break down its engravings, "" Together, with axe and hatchet,

7They have sent Your sanctuary into fire, "" They defiled the Dwelling Place of Your Name to the earth,

8They said in their hearts, “Let us oppress them together,” "" They burned all the meeting-places of God in the land.

9We have not seen our ensigns, "" There is no longer a prophet, "" Nor with us is one knowing how long.

10Until when, O God, does an adversary reproach? Does an enemy despise Your Name forever?

11Why do You turn back Your hand, "" Even Your right hand? Remove [it] from the midst of Your bosom.

12And God [is] my king of old, "" Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13You have divided [the] sea by Your strength, "" You have shattered heads of dragons by the waters,

14You have broken the heads of leviathan, "" You make him food for the people of desert-dwellers.

15You have cleaved a fountain and a stream, "" You have dried up perennial flowings.

16The day [is] Yours, "" The night [is] also Yours, "" You have prepared a light-giver—the sun.

17You have set up all the borders of earth, "" Summer and winter—You have formed them.

18Remember this—an enemy reproached YHWH, "" And a foolish people have despised Your Name.

19Do not give up to a [wild] creature, "" The soul of Your turtle-dove, "" Do not forget the life of Your poor ones forever.

20Look attentively to the covenant, "" For the dark places of earth, "" Have been full of habitations of violence.

21Do not let the oppressed turn back ashamed, "" Let the poor and needy praise Your Name,

22Arise, O God, plead Your plea, "" Remember Your reproach from a fool all the day.

23Do not forget the voice of Your adversaries, "" The noise of Your withstanders is going up continually!