1Maschil of Asaph. Why, O God, hast Thou cast us off for ever? Why doth Thine anger smoke against the flock of Thy pasture?

2Remember Thy congregation, which Thou hast gotten of old, which Thou hast redeemed to be the tribe of Thine inheritance; and mount Zion, wherein Thou hast dwelt.

3Lift up Thy steps because of the perpetual ruins, even all the evil that the enemy hath done in the sanctuary.

4Thine adversaries have roared in the midst of Thy meeting-place; they have set up their own signs for signs.

5It seemed as when men wield upwards axes in a thicket of trees.

6And now all the carved work thereof together they strike down with hatchet and hammers.

7They have set Thy sanctuary on fire; they have profaned the dwelling-place of Thy name even to the ground.

8They said in their heart: 'Let us make havoc of them altogether'; they have burned up all the meeting-places of God in the land.

9We see not our signs; there is no more any prophet; neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

10How long, O God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme Thy name for ever?

11Why withdrawest Thou Thy hand, even Thy right hand? Draw it out of Thy bosom and consume them.

12Yet God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13Thou didst break the sea in pieces by Thy strength; Thou didst shatter the heads of the sea-monsters in the waters.

14Thou didst crush the heads of leviathan, Thou gavest him to be food to the folk inhabiting the wilderness.

15Thou didst cleave fountain and brook; Thou driedst up ever-flowing rivers.

16Thine is the day, Thine also the night; Thou hast established luminary and sun.

17Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; Thou hast made summer and winter.

18Remember this, how the enemy hath reproached the LORD, and how a base people have blasphemed Thy name.

19O deliver not the soul of Thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast; forget not the life of Thy poor for ever.

20Look upon the covenant; for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.

21O let not the oppressed turn back in confusion; let the poor and needy praise Thy name.

22Arise, O God, plead Thine own cause; remember Thy reproach all the day at the hand of the base man.

23Forget not the voice of Thine adversaries, the tumult of those that rise up against Thee which ascendeth continually.