• A Plea for Relief from Oppressors

  • 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.