1 Our God, why have you

completely rejected us?

Why are you so angry

with the ones you care for?

2 Remember the people

you rescued long ago,

the tribe you chose

for your very own.

Think of Mount Zion,

your home;

3 walk over to the temple

left in ruins forever

by those who hate us.

4 Your enemies roared like lions

in your holy temple,

and they have placed

their banners there.

5 It looks like a forest

chopped to pieces.*

6 They used axes and hatchets

to smash the carvings.

7 They burned down your temple

and badly disgraced it.

8 They said to themselves,

"We'll crush them!"

Then they burned every one

of your meeting places

all over the country.

9 There are no more miracles

and no more prophets.

Who knows how long

it will be like this?

10 Our God, how much longer

will our enemies sneer?

Won't they ever stop

insulting you?

11 Why don't you punish them?

Why are you holding back?

12 Our God and King,

you have ruled

since ancient times;

you have won victories

everywhere on this earth.

13 * By your power you made a path

through the sea,

and you smashed the heads

of sea monsters.

14 * You crushed the heads

of the monster Leviathan,*

then fed him to wild creatures

in the desert.

15 You opened the ground

for streams and springs

and dried up mighty rivers.

16 You rule the day and the night,

and you put the moon

and the sun in place.

17 You made summer and winter

and gave them to the earth.*

18 Remember your enemies, Lord!

They foolishly sneer

and won't respect you.

19 You treat us like pet doves,

but they mistreat us.

Don't keep forgetting us

and letting us be fed

to those wild animals.

20 Remember the agreement

you made with us.

Violent enemies are hiding

in every dark corner

of the earth.

21 Don't disappoint those in need

or make them turn from you,

but help the poor and homeless

to shout your praises.

22 Do something, God!

Defend yourself.

Remember how those fools

sneer at you all day long.

23 Don't forget the loud shouts

of your enemies.