Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 <<A maskil by Asaf.>> God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
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You walked off and left us, and never looked back. God, how could you do that? We're your very own sheep; how can you stomp off in anger?
2 Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old, Which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance; Mount Tziyon, in which you have lived.
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Refresh your memory of us - you bought us a long time ago. Your most precious tribe - you paid a good price for us! Your very own Mount Zion - you actually lived here once!
3 Lift up your feet to the perpetual ruins, All the evil that the enemy has done in the sanctuary.
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Come and visit the site of disaster, see how they've wrecked the sanctuary.
4 Your adversaries have roared in the midst of your assembly. They have set up their standards as signs.
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While your people were at worship, your enemies barged in, brawling and scrawling graffiti.
5 They behaved like men wielding axes, Cutting through a thicket of trees.
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They set fire to the porch; axes swinging, they chopped up the woodwork,
6 Now all its carved work They break down with hatchet and hammers.
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Beat down the doors with sledgehammers, then split them into kindling.
7 They have burned your sanctuary to the ground. They have profaned the dwelling-place of your Name.
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They burned your holy place to the ground, violated the place of worship.
8 They said in their heart, "We will crush them completely." They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.
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They said to themselves, "We'll wipe them all out," and burned down all the places of worship.
9 We see no miraculous signs. There is no longer any prophet, Neither is there among us anyone who knows how long.
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There's not a sign or symbol of God in sight, nor anyone to speak in his name, no one who knows what's going on.
10 How long, God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
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How long, God, will barbarians blaspheme, enemies curse and get by with it?
11 Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand? Take it out of your pocket and consume them!
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Why don't you do something? How long are you going to sit there with your hands folded in your lap?
12 Yet God is my King of old, Working salvation in the midst of the eretz.
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God is my King from the very start; he works salvation in the womb of the earth.
13 You divided the sea by your strength. You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
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With one blow you split the sea in two, you made mincemeat of the dragon Tannin.
14 You broke the heads of Livyatan in pieces. You gave him as food to people and desert creatures.
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You lopped off the heads of Leviathan, then served them up in a stew for the animals.
15 You opened up spring and stream. You dried up mighty rivers.
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With your finger you opened up springs and creeks, and dried up the wild floodwaters.
16 The day is yours, the night is also yours. You have prepared the light and the sun.
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You own the day, you own the night; you put stars and sun in place.
17 You have set all the boundaries of the eretz. You have made summer and winter.
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You laid out the four corners of earth, shaped the seasons of summer and winter.
18 Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, LORD. Foolish people have blasphemed your name.
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Mark and remember, God, all the enemy taunts, each idiot desecration.
19 Don't deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts. Don't forget the life of your poor forever.
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Don't throw your lambs to the wolves; after all we've been through, don't forget us.
20 Honor your covenant, For haunts of violence fill the dark places of the eretz.
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Remember your promises; the city is in darkness, the countryside violent.
21 Don't let the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name.
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Don't leave the victims to rot in the street; make them a choir that sings your praises.
22 Arise, God! Plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.
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On your feet, O God - stand up for yourself! Do you hear what they're saying about you, all the vile obscenities?
23 Don't forget the voice of your adversaries. The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually.
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Don't tune out their malicious filth, the brawling invective that never lets up.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.