(A special psalm by Asaph.)
A Prayer for the Nation in Times of Trouble
1 Our God, why have you
completely rejected us?
Why are you so angry
with the ones you care for?
2 Remember the people
you rescued long ago,
the tribe you chose
for your very own.
Think of Mount Zion,
your home;
3 walk over to the temple
left in ruins forever
by those who hate us.
4 Your enemies roared like lions
in your holy temple,
and they have placed
their banners there.
5 It looks like a forest
chopped to pieces.
6 They used axes and hatchets
to smash the carvings.
7 They burned down your temple
and badly disgraced it.
8 They said to themselves,
“We'll crush them!”
Then they burned every one
of your meeting places
all over the country.
9 There are no more miracles
and no more prophets.
Who knows how long
it will be like this?
10 Our God, how much longer
will our enemies sneer?
Won't they ever stop
insulting you?
11 Why don't you punish them?
Why are you holding back?
12 Our God and King,
you have ruled
since ancient times;
you have won victories
everywhere on this earth.
13 By your power you made a path
through the sea,
and you smashed the heads
of sea monsters.
14 You crushed the heads
of the monster Leviathan,
then fed him to wild creatures
in the desert.
15 You opened the ground
for streams and springs
and dried up mighty rivers.
16 You rule the day and the night,
and you put the moon
and the sun in place.
17 You made summer and winter
and gave them to the earth.
18 Remember your enemies, Lord!
They foolishly sneer
and won't respect you.
19 You treat us like pet doves,
but they mistreat us.
Don't keep forgetting us
and letting us be fed
to those wild animals.
20 Remember the agreement
you made with us.
Violent enemies are hiding
in every dark corner
of the earth.
21 Don't disappoint those in need
or make them turn from you,
but help the poor and homeless
to shout your praises.
22 Do something, God!
Defend yourself.
Remember how those fools
sneer at you all day long.
23 Don't forget the loud shouts
of your enemies.
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.