| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1O God, why have you rejected us so long? Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own 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 that we are the people you chose long ago, the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession! And remember Jerusalem, your home here on earth. | 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! |
| 3Walk through the awful ruins of the city; see how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary. | 3Hurry and look at the permanent ruins, and all the damage the enemy has done to the temple! |
| 4There your enemies shouted their victorious battle cries; there they set up their battle standards. | 4Your enemies roar in the middle of your sanctuary; they set up their battle flags. |
| 5They swung their axes like woodcutters in a forest. | 5They invade like lumberjacks swinging their axes in a thick forest. |
| 6With axes and picks, they smashed the carved paneling. | 6And now they are tearing down all its engravings with axes and crowbars. |
| 7They burned your sanctuary to the ground. They defiled the place that bears your name. | 7They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrate your dwelling place by knocking it to the ground. |
| 8Then they thought, “Let’s destroy everything!” So they burned down all the places where God was worshiped. | 8They say to themselves, "We will oppress all of them." They burn down all the places where people worship God in the land. |
| 9We no longer see your miraculous signs. All the prophets are gone, and no one can tell us when it will end. | 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. |
| 10How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever? | 10How long, O God, will the adversary hurl insults? Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever? |
| 11Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them. | 11Why do you remain inactive? Intervene and destroy him! |
| 12You, O God, are my king from ages past, bringing salvation to the earth. | 12But God has been my king from ancient times, performing acts of deliverance on the earth. |
| 13You split the sea by your strength and smashed the heads of the sea monsters. | 13You destroyed the sea by your strength; you shattered the heads of the sea monster in the water. |
| 14You crushed the heads of Leviathan and let the desert animals eat him. | 14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you fed him to the people who live along the coast. |
| 15You caused the springs and streams to gush forth, and you dried up rivers that never run dry. | 15You broke open the spring and the stream; you dried up perpetually flowing rivers. |
| 16Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun. | 16You established the cycle of day and night; you put the moon and sun in place. |
| 17You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter. | 17You set up all the boundaries of the earth; you created the cycle of summer and winter. |
| 18See how these enemies insult you, LORD. A foolish nation has dishonored your name. | 18Remember how the enemy hurls insults, O LORD, and how a foolish nation blasphemes your name! |
| 19Don’t let these wild beasts destroy your turtledoves. Don’t forget your suffering people 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! |
| 20Remember your covenant promises, for the land is full of darkness and violence! | 20Remember your covenant promises, for the dark regions of the earth are full of places where violence rules. |
| 21Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again. Instead, 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, and defend your cause. Remember how these fools insult you all day long. | 22Rise up, O God! Defend your honor! Remember how fools insult you all day long! |
| 23Don’t overlook what your enemies have said or their growing uproar. | 23Do not disregard what your enemies say, or the unceasing shouts of those who defy you. |
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