English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
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O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
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Remember your congregation, which you acquired long ago, which you redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage. Remember Mount Zion, where you came to dwell.
3 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!
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Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary.
4 Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place; they set up their own signs for signs.
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Your foes have roared within your holy place; they set up their emblems there.
5 They were like those who swing axes in a forest of trees.
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At the upper entrance they hacked the wooden trellis with axes.
6 And all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers.
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And then, with hatchets and hammers, they smashed all its carved work.
7 They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground.
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They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrated the dwelling place of your name, bringing it to the ground.
8 They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
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They said to themselves, "We will utterly subdue them"; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
9 We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long.
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We do not see our emblems; there is no longer any prophet, and there is no one among us who knows how long.
10 How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
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How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!
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Why do you hold back your hand; why do you keep your hand in your bosom?
12 Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
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Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the earth.
13 You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters.
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You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.
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You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.
15 You split open springs and brooks; you dried up ever-flowing streams.
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You cut openings for springs and torrents; you dried up ever-flowing streams.
16 Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.
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Yours is the day, yours also the night; you established the luminaries and the sun.
17 You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.
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You have fixed all the bounds of the earth; you made summer and winter.
18 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name.
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Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and an impious people reviles your name.
19 Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever.
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Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild animals; do not forget the life of your poor forever.
20 Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
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Have regard for your covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the haunts of violence.
21 Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.
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Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!
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Rise up, O God, plead your cause; remember how the impious scoff at you all day long.
23 Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!
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Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of your adversaries that goes up continually.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.