The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
1 <Maschil. Of Asaph.> Of God, why have you put us away from you for ever? why is the fire of your wrath smoking against the sheep who are your care?
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O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Keep in mind your band of worshippers, for whom you gave payment in the days which are past, whom you took for yourself as the people of your heritage; even this mountain of Zion, which has been your resting-place.
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Remember the nation you purchased long ago, the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed— Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
3 Go up and see the unending destruction; all the evil which your haters have done in the holy place;
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Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4 Sending out their voices like lions among your worshippers; they have put up their signs to be seen.
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Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs.
5 They are cutting down, like a man whose blade is lifted up against the thick trees.
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They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.
6 Your doors are broken down with hammers and iron blades.
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They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets.
7 They have put on fire your holy place; they have made the place of your name unclean, pulling it down to the earth.
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They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
8 They have said in their hearts, Let us put an end to them all together; they have given over to the fire all God's places of worship in the land.
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They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!” They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.
9 We do not see our signs: there is no longer any prophet, or anyone among us to say how long.
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We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be.
10 O God, how long will those who are against us say cruel things? will the hater go on looking down on your name for ever?
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How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever?
11 Why are you keeping back your hand, and covering your right hand in your robe?
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Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
12 For from the past God is my King, working salvation in the earth.
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But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.
13 The sea was parted in two by your strength; the heads of the great sea-beasts were broken.
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It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
14 The heads of the great snake were crushed by you; you gave them as food to the fishes of the sea.
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It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
15 You made valleys for fountains and springs; you made the ever-flowing rivers dry.
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It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours and the night is yours: you made the light and the sun.
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The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
17 By you all the limits of the earth were fixed; you have made summer and winter.
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It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
18 Keep this in mind, O Lord, that your haters have said cruel things, and that your name has been looked down on by a people of evil behaviour.
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Remember how the enemy has mocked you, LORD, how foolish people have reviled your name.
19 O give not the soul of your dove to the hawk; let not the life of the poor go out of your memory for ever.
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Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.
20 Keep in mind your undertaking; for the dark places of the earth are full of pride and cruel acts.
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Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
21 O let not the crushed be turned back in shame; let the low man and the poor give praise to your name.
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Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Up! O God, be the judge of your cause; keep in mind the bitter things which the man of evil behaviour says against you every day.
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Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long.
23 Keep in mind the voice of your haters; the outcry of those who come against you goes up every day.
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Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.