New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 God, why have you rejected us for so long? Why are you angry with us, the sheep of your pasture?
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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 the people you bought long ago. You saved us, and we are your very own. After all, you live on Mount Zion.
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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 Make your way through these old ruins; the enemy wrecked everything in the Temple.
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Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4 Those who were against you shouted in your meeting place and raised their flags there.
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Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs.
5 They came with axes raised as if to cut down a forest of trees.
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They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.
6 They smashed the carved panels with their axes and hatchets.
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They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets.
7 They burned your Temple to the ground; they have made the place where you live unclean.
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They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
8 They thought, "We will completely crush them!" They burned every place where God was worshiped 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 any signs. There are no more prophets, and no one knows how long this 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 God, how much longer will the enemy make fun of you? Will they insult you 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 power? Bring your power out in the open and destroy them!
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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, you have been our king for a long time. You bring salvation to the earth.
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But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.
13 You split open the sea by your power and broke the heads of the sea monster.
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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 smashed the heads of the monster Leviathan and gave him to the desert creatures as food.
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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 opened up the springs and streams and made the flowing rivers run dry.
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It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
16 Both the day and the night are yours; you made the sun and the moon.
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The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
17 You set all the limits on the earth; you created 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 Lord, remember how the enemy insulted you. Remember how those foolish people made fun of you.
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Remember how the enemy has mocked you, LORD, how foolish people have reviled your name.
19 Do not give us, your doves, to those wild animals. Never forget your poor people.
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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 Remember the agreement you made with us, because violence fills every dark corner of this land.
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Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
21 Do not let your suffering people be disgraced. Let the poor and helpless praise you.
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Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.
22 God, arise and defend yourself. Remember the insults that come from those foolish people all day long.
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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 enemies said; don't forget their roar as they rise against you always.
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Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.