| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1A Contemplation of Asaph. O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? | 1A well-written song by Asaph. Why, O God, have you permanently rejected us? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture? |
| 2Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed— This Mount Zion where You have dwelt. | 2Remember your people whom you acquired in ancient times, whom you rescued so they could be your very own nation, as well as Mount Zion, where you dwell! |
| 3Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations. The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. | 3Hurry and look at the permanent ruins, and all the damage the enemy has done to the temple! |
| 4Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; They set up their banners for signs. | 4Your enemies roar in the middle of your sanctuary; they set up their battle flags. |
| 5They seem like men who lift up Axes among the thick trees. | 5They invade like lumberjacks swinging their axes in a thick forest. |
| 6And now they break down its carved work, all at once, With axes and hammers. | 6And now they are tearing down all its engravings with axes and crowbars. |
| 7They have set fire to Your sanctuary; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground. | 7They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrate your dwelling place by knocking it to the ground. |
| 8They said in their hearts, “Let us destroy them altogether.” They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land. | 8They say to themselves, "We will oppress all of them." They burn down all the places where people worship God in the land. |
| 9We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet; Nor is there any among us who knows how long. | 9We do not see any signs of God's presence; there are no longer any prophets and we have no one to tell us how long this will last. |
| 10O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? | 10How long, O God, will the adversary hurl insults? Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever? |
| 11Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them. | 11Why do you remain inactive? Intervene and destroy him! |
| 12For God is my King from of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth. | 12But God has been my king from ancient times, performing acts of deliverance on the earth. |
| 13You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. | 13You destroyed the sea by your strength; you shattered the heads of the sea monster in the water. |
| 14You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness. | 14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you fed him to the people who live along the coast. |
| 15You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up mighty rivers. | 15You broke open the spring and the stream; you dried up perpetually flowing rivers. |
| 16The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun. | 16You established the cycle of day and night; you put the moon and sun in place. |
| 17You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter. | 17You set up all the boundaries of the earth; you created the cycle of summer and winter. |
| 18Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O LORD, And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name. | 18Remember how the enemy hurls insults, O LORD, and how a foolish nation blasphemes your name! |
| 19Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast! Do not forget the life of Your poor forever. | 19Do not hand the life of your dove over to a wild animal! Do not continue to disregard the lives of your oppressed people! |
| 20Have respect to the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty. | 20Remember your covenant promises, for the dark regions of the earth are full of places where violence rules. |
| 21Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your name. | 21Do not let the afflicted be turned back in shame! Let the oppressed and poor praise your name! |
| 22Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily. | 22Rise up, O God! Defend your honor! Remember how fools insult you all day long! |
| 23Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually. | 23Do not disregard what your enemies say, or the unceasing shouts of those who defy you. |
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