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¹ O GOD, why hast thou cast us off for ever? Why hath thine anger become inflamed against the sheep of thy flock?² Remember thy congregation which thou hast possessed of old; the tribe of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.³ Exalt thy servants over those who are carried away by power; all those who oppress are enemies of thy sanctuary.⁴ Thine enemies exalted themselves in the midst of thy feasts; they set up their banners for signs.⁵ Thou knowest this as the exalted one who sits on high: they have hewn down the doors with axes as they would cut the trees of the forest.⁶ They have destroyed everything with axes and hammers.⁷ They have set fire to and burned thy sanctuary; they have defiled the dwelling place of thy name on earth.⁸ They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together; let us abolish all the feast days of God from the land.⁹ They did not see the wonders thereof; for there is no more any prophet, neither is there among us any wise man.¹⁰ O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?¹¹ Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy strength from the midst of thy congregation?

¹² For God is our King, who of old has commanded the salvation of Jacob.¹³ Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou didst break the heads of the dragons in the waters.¹⁴ Thou didst break the heads of Leviathan in pieces, and thou gavest him as food to a strong people.¹⁵ Thou didst open the fountains in the valleys; thou didst dry up mighty rivers.¹⁶ The day is thine, the night also is thine; thou hast prepared the light and the sun.¹⁷ Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; thou hast made summer and winter.

¹⁸ Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.¹⁹ O deliver not to destruction the soul that confesses to thee; forget not the souls of thy poor for ever.²⁰ Respect thy covenant, O LORD; for the habitations of the earth are full of ignorance and cruelty.²¹ O let not the oppressed return ashamed; let the poor and needy praise thy name.²² Arise, O God, plead thine own cause; remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.²³ Forget not the voice of thine enemies; the tumult of those that rise up against thee ascendeth continually.