The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New International Version NIV
1 A maskil of Asaf: Why have you rejected us forever, God, with your anger smoking against the sheep you once pastured?
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O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember your community, which you acquired long ago, the tribe you redeemed to be your very own. Remember Mount Tziyon, where you came to live.
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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 Hurry your steps to these endless ruins, to the sanctuary devastated by the enemy.
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Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4 The roar of your foes filled your meeting-place; they raised their own banners as a sign of their conquest.
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Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs.
5 The place seemed like a thicket of trees when lumbermen hack away with their axes.
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They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.
6 With hatchet and hammer they banged away, smashing all the carved woodwork.
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They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets.
7 They set your sanctuary on fire, tore down and profaned the abode of your name.
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They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
8 They said to themselves, "We will oppress them completely."They have burned down all God's meeting-places 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 see no signs, there is no prophet any more; none of us knows how long it will last.
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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 How much longer, God, will the foe jeer at us? Will the enemy insult your name forever?
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How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand? Draw your right hand from your coat, and finish them off!
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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 God has been my king from earliest times, acting to save throughout all the earth.
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But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.
13 By your strength you split the sea in two, in the water you smashed sea monsters' heads,
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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 you crushed the heads of Livyatan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
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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 cut channels for springs and streams, you dried up rivers that had never failed.
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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; it was you who established light and sun.
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The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
17 It was you who fixed all the limits of the earth, you 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 Remember how the enemy scoffs at ADONAI, how a brutish people insults your name.
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Remember how the enemy has mocked you, LORD, how foolish people have reviled your name.
19 Don't hand over the soul of your dove to wild beasts, don't forget forever the life of your poor.
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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 Look to the covenant, for the land's dark places are full of the haunts of violence.
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Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
21 Don't let the oppressed retreat in confusion; let the poor and needy praise your name.
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Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Arise, God, and defend your cause; remember how brutish men insult you all day.
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Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long.
23 Don't forget what your foes are saying, the ever-rising uproar of your adversaries.
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Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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.