Maschil of Asaph

1O God, why have You cast us off for ever? why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

2Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old; the rod of your inheritance, which You have redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein You have dwelled.

3Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy has done wickedly in the sanctuary.

4Your enemies roar in the midst of Your congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.   banners

5A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.

6But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.

7They have cast fire into Your sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.

8They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

9We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knows how long.

10O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme Your name for ever?

11Why withdraw You Your hand, even Your right hand? pluck it out of Your bosom.

12For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13You did divide the sea by Your strength: You broke the heads of the dragons in the waters.   monstrous beasts

14You broke the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gave him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.   sea creature; food

15You did split the fountain and the flood: You dried up mighty rivers.

16The day is Yours, the night also is Yours: You have prepared the light and the sun.

17You have set all the borders of the earth: You have made summer and winter.

18Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed Your name.

19O deliver not the soul of Your turtledove to the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of Your poor for ever.   beloved

20Have respect to the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.   agreement

21O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise Your name.

22Arise, O God, plead Your own cause: remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.

23Forget not the voice of Your enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against You increases continually.