New International Version NIV
Good News Translation GNT
1 O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
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Why have you abandoned us like this, O God? Will you be angry with your own people forever?
2 Remember the nation you purchased long ago, the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed— Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
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Remember your people, whom you chose for yourself long ago, whom you brought out of slavery to be your own tribe. Remember Mount Zion, where once you lived.
3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
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Walk over these total ruins; our enemies have destroyed everything in the Temple.
4 Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs.
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Your enemies have shouted in triumph in your Temple; they have placed their flags there as signs of victory.
5 They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.
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They looked like woodsmen cutting down trees with their axes.
6 They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets.
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They smashed all the wooden panels with their axes and sledge hammers.
7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
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They wrecked your Temple and set it on fire; they desecrated the place where you are worshiped.
8 They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!” They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.
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They wanted to crush us completely; they burned down every holy place in the land.
9 We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be.
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All our sacred symbols are gone; there are no prophets left, and no one knows how long this will last.
10 How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever?
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How long, O God, will our enemies laugh at you? Will they insult your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
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Why have you refused to help us? Why do you keep your hands behind you?
12 But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.
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But you have been our king from the beginning, O God; you have saved us many times.
13 It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
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With your mighty strength you divided the sea and smashed the heads of the sea monsters;
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
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you crushed the heads of the monster Leviathan and fed his body to desert animals.
15 It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
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You made springs and fountains flow; you dried up large rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
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You created the day and the night; you set the sun and the moon in their places;
17 It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
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you set the limits of the earth; you made summer and winter.
18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, LORD, how foolish people have reviled your name.
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But remember, O Lord, that your enemies laugh at you, that they are godless and despise you.
19 Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.
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Don't abandon your helpless people to their cruel enemies; don't forget your persecuted people!
20 Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
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Remember the covenant you made with us. There is violence in every dark corner of the land.
21 Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.
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Don't let the oppressed be put to shame; let those poor and needy people praise you.
22 Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long.
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Rouse yourself, God, and defend your cause! Remember that godless people laugh at you all day long.
23 Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
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Don't forget the angry shouts of your enemies, the continuous noise made by your foes.
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.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.