The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 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?
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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 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!
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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.
3 Come and visit the site of disaster, see how they've wrecked the sanctuary.
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Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!
4 While your people were at worship, your enemies barged in, brawling and scrawling graffiti.
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Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place; they set up their own signs for signs.
5 They set fire to the porch; axes swinging, they chopped up the woodwork,
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They were like those who swing axes in a forest of trees.
6 Beat down the doors with sledgehammers, then split them into kindling.
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And all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers.
7 They burned your holy place to the ground, violated the place of worship.
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They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground.
8 They said to themselves, "We'll wipe them all out," and burned down all the places of worship.
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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 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.
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We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long.
10 How long, God, will barbarians blaspheme, enemies curse and get by with it?
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How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
11 Why don't you do something? How long are you going to sit there with your hands folded in your lap?
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Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!
12 God is my King from the very start; he works salvation in the womb of the earth.
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Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 With one blow you split the sea in two, you made mincemeat of the dragon Tannin.
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You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters.
14 You lopped off the heads of Leviathan, then served them up in a stew for the animals.
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You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.
15 With your finger you opened up springs and creeks, and dried up the wild floodwaters.
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You split open springs and brooks; you dried up ever-flowing streams.
16 You own the day, you own the night; you put stars and sun in place.
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Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.
17 You laid out the four corners of earth, shaped the seasons of summer and winter.
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You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.
18 Mark and remember, God, all the enemy taunts, each idiot desecration.
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Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name.
19 Don't throw your lambs to the wolves; after all we've been through, don't forget us.
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Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever.
20 Remember your promises; the city is in darkness, the countryside violent.
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Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
21 Don't leave the victims to rot in the street; make them a choir that sings your praises.
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Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.
22 On your feet, O God - stand up for yourself! Do you hear what they're saying about you, all the vile obscenities?
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Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!
23 Don't tune out their malicious filth, the brawling invective that never lets up.
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Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!
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.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.