1
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A Maskil of Asaph. Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture? |
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2
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Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe of Your inheritance—Mount Zion where You dwell. |
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3
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Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins, to everything in the sanctuary the enemy has destroyed. |
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4
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Your foes have roared within Your meeting place; they have unfurled their banners as signs, |
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5
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like men wielding axes in a thicket of trees |
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6
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and smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks. |
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7
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They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; they have defiled the dwelling place of Your Name. |
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8
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They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely.” They burned down every place where God met us in the land. |
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9
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There are no signs for us to see. There is no longer any prophet. And none of us knows how long this will last. |
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10
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How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever? |
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11
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Why do You withdraw Your strong right hand? Stretch it out to destroy them! |
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12
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Yet God is my King from ancient times, working salvation on the earth. |
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13
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You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea; |
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14
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You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert. |
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15
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You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up the ever-flowing rivers. |
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16
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The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun. |
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17
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You set all the boundaries of the earth; You made the summer and winter. |
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18
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Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name. |
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19
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Do not deliver the soul of Your dove to beasts; do not forget the lives of Your afflicted forever. |
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20
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Consider Your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land. |
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21
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Do not let the oppressed retreat in shame; may the poor and needy praise Your name. |
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22
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Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! Remember how the fool mocks You all day long. |
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23
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Do not disregard the clamor of Your adversaries, the uproar of Your enemies that ascends continually. |
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