The Message Bible MSG
Young's Literal Translation YLT
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?
1
An Instruction of Asaph. Why, O God, hast Thou cast off for ever? Thine anger smoketh against the flock of Thy 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!
2
Remember Thy company. Thou didst purchase of old, Thou didst redeem the rod of Thy inheritance, This mount Zion -- Thou didst dwell in it.
3 Come and visit the site of disaster, see how they've wrecked the sanctuary.
3
Lift up Thy steps to the perpetual desolations, Everything the enemy did wickedly in the sanctuary.
4 While your people were at worship, your enemies barged in, brawling and scrawling graffiti.
4
Roared have thine adversaries, In the midst of Thy meeting-places, They have set their ensigns as ensigns.
5 They set fire to the porch; axes swinging, they chopped up the woodwork,
5
He is known as one bringing in on high Against a thicket of wood -- axes.
6 Beat down the doors with sledgehammers, then split them into kindling.
6
And now, its carvings together With axe and hatchet they break down,
7 They burned your holy place to the ground, violated the place of worship.
7
They have sent into fire Thy sanctuary, to the earth they polluted the tabernacle of Thy name,
8 They said to themselves, "We'll wipe them all out," and burned down all the places of worship.
8
They said in their hearts, `Let us oppress them together,' They did burn 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.
9
Our ensigns we have not seen, There is no more a prophet, Nor with us is one knowing how long.
10 How long, God, will barbarians blaspheme, enemies curse and get by with it?
10
Till when, O God, doth an adversary reproach? Doth an enemy despise thy name for ever?
11 Why don't you do something? How long are you going to sit there with your hands folded in your lap?
11
Why dost Thou turn back Thy hand, Even Thy right hand? From the midst of Thy bosom remove [it].
12 God is my King from the very start; he works salvation in the womb of the earth.
12
And God [is] my king 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.
13
Thou hast broken by Thy strength a sea-[monster], Thou hast shivered Heads of dragons by the waters,
14 You lopped off the heads of Leviathan, then served them up in a stew for the animals.
14
Thou hast broken the heads of leviathan, Thou makest him food, For the people of the dry places.
15 With your finger you opened up springs and creeks, and dried up the wild floodwaters.
15
Thou hast cleaved a fountain and a stream, Thou hast dried up perennial flowings.
16 You own the day, you own the night; you put stars and sun in place.
16
Thine [is] the day, also Thine [is] the night, Thou hast prepared a light giver -- the sun.
17 You laid out the four corners of earth, shaped the seasons of summer and winter.
17
Thou hast set up all the borders of earth, Summer and winter Thou hast formed them.
18 Mark and remember, God, all the enemy taunts, each idiot desecration.
18
Remember this -- an enemy reproached Jehovah, And a foolish people have despised Thy name.
19 Don't throw your lambs to the wolves; after all we've been through, don't forget us.
19
Give not up to a company, The soul of Thy turtle-dove, The company of Thy poor ones forget not for ever.
20 Remember your promises; the city is in darkness, the countryside violent.
20
Look attentively to the covenant, For the dark places of earth, Have been full of habitations of violence.
21 Don't leave the victims to rot in the street; make them a choir that sings your praises.
21
Let not the oppressed turn back ashamed, Let the poor and needy praise Thy name,
22 On your feet, O God - stand up for yourself! Do you hear what they're saying about you, all the vile obscenities?
22
Arise, O God, plead Thy plea, Remember Thy reproach from a fool all the day.
23 Don't tune out their malicious filth, the brawling invective that never lets up.
23
Forget not the voice of Thine adversaries, The noise of Thy withstanders is going 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.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.