O God, wherefore art thou absent from us so long: why is thy wrath
so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?
2 O think upon thy congregation: whom thou hast purchased and
redeemed of old.
3 Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance: and Mount Sion, wherein
thou hast dwelt.
4 Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy:
which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.
5 Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations: and
set up their banners for tokens.
6 He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees: was known to
bring it to an excellent work.
7 But now they break down all the carved work thereof: with axes
and hammers.
8 They have set fire upon thy holy places: and have defiled the
dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.
9 Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havock of them
altogether: thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the
land.
10 We see not our tokens, there is not one prophet more: no, not
one is there among us, that understandeth any more.
11 O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour: how long
shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name, for ever?
12 Why withdrawest thou thy hand: why pluckest thou not thy right
hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy?
13 For God is my King of old: the help that is done upon earth he
doeth it himself.
14 Thou didst divide the sea through thy power: thou brakest the
heads of the dragons in the waters.
15 Thou smotest the heads of leviathan in pieces: and gavest him
to be meat for the people in the wilderness.
16 Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks:
thou driedst up mighty waters.
17 The day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast prepared
the light and the sun.
18 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer
and winter.
19 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy hath rebuked: and how the
foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.
20 O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of
the enemies: and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever,
21 Look upon the covenant: for all the earth is full of darkness
and cruel habitations.
22 O let not the simple go away ashamed: but let the poor and needy
give praise unto thy Name.
23 Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause: remember how the foolish
man blasphemeth thee daily.
24 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the presumption of them
that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.