1A Maskil of Asaph. Why, O God, have you cast off forever? Does your anger smoke against the flock of your pasture?
2Remember your congregation, which you acquired of old, you redeemed the tribe of your inheritance, Mount Zion, this where you dwelt.
3Lift up your steps to the perpetual ruins; all the evil the enemy has done in the holy place.
4Your adversaries roared in the midst of your appointed place (moed); they set up their signs (ot) as signs (ot).
5He is known as one who brings axes upward into a thicket of trees.
6And now its carved work all together, with hatchet and hammers they strike down.
7They set your sanctuary on fire; to the ground they profaned the tabernacle (mishkan) of your name.
8They said in their heart, "Let us oppress them together"; they burned all the appointed places (moadim) of God in the land.
9Our signs (ot) we have not seen; there is no longer a prophet, and there is none with us who knows how long.
10Until when, O God, will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy spurn your name forever?
11Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand? From the midst of your bosom, finish them!
12And God is my King from of old, working salvations (yeshuah) in the midst of the earth.
13You broke up the sea by your strength; you shattered the heads of the great sea-creatures (tannin) upon the waters.
14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food to a people, to the desert-dwellers.
15You split open fountain and brook; you dried up ever-flowing rivers.
16Yours is the day, yours also the night; you established luminary and sun.
17You set all the borders of the earth; summer and winter, you formed them.
18Remember this: the enemy has reproached YHWH, and a foolish people have spurned your name.
19Do not give to the wild beast the soul (nephesh) of your dove; the life (chai) of your afflicted ones do not forget forever.
20Look to the covenant (berit), for the dark places of the land are full of the dwellings of violence.
21Let not the oppressed return ashamed; let the poor and needy praise your name.
22Arise, O God, plead your cause; remember your reproach from the fool all the day.
23Do not forget the voice of your adversaries, the tumult of those rising against you, ascending continually.