Why Have You Rejected Us Forever?
(Psalm 79:1–13; Jeremiah 52:1–11)

1A Psalme to giue instruction, committed to Asaph. O God, why hast thou put vs away for euer? why is thy wrath kindled against the sheepe of thy pasture?

2Thinke vpon thy Congregation, which thou hast possessed of olde, and on the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed, and on this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

3Lift vp thy strokes, that thou mayest for euer destroy euery enemie that doeth euill to the Sanctuarie.

4Thine aduersaries roare in the middes of thy Congregation, and set vp their banners for signes.

5He that lifted the axes vpon the thicke trees, was renowmed, as one, that brought a thing to perfection:

6But nowe they breake downe the carued worke thereof with axes and hammers.

7They haue cast thy Sanctuarie into the fire, and rased it to the grounde, and haue defiled the dwelling place of thy Name.

8They saide in their hearts, Let vs destroy them altogether: they haue burnt all the Synagogues of God in the land.

9We see not our signes: there is not one Prophet more, nor any with vs that knoweth howe long.

10O God, howe long shall the aduersarie reproche thee? shall the enemie blaspheme thy Name for euer?

11Why withdrawest thou thine hand, euen thy right hand? drawe it out of thy bosome, and consume them.

12Euen God is my King of olde, working saluation in the middes of the earth.

13Thou didest deuide the sea by thy power: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.

14Thou brakest the head of Liuiathan in pieces, and gauest him to be meate for the people in wildernesse.

15Thou brakest vp the fountaine and riuer: thou dryedst vp mightie riuers.

16The day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sunne.

17Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

18Remember this, that the enemie hath reproched the Lorde, and the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.

19Giue not the soule of thy turtle doue vnto the beast, and forget not the Congregation of thy poore for euer.

20Consider thy couenant: for the darke places of the earth are full of the habitations of the cruell.

21Oh let not the oppressed returne ashamed, but let the poore and needie prayse thy Name.

22Arise, O God: mainteine thine owne cause: remember thy dayly reproche by the foolish man.

23Forget not the voyce of thine enemies: for the tumult of them, that rise against thee, ascendeth continually.