Hear Us, Shepherd (80)

O `God_, why have you rejected / us forever?

`Why_ does your anger smolder a_ gainst the sheep_ / of your pasture?

Re `member your_ / congregation,

`which you purchased / of~ old,

`which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your in / heritance:

Mount `Zion, in which / you have lived.

`Make your way to the perpetual_ / ru~ ins,

`all the evil that the enemy has done_ in the / sanctuary.

(Ref)

Your `adversaries have roared in the middle of_ / your assembly.

`They have set_ up their standards / as~ signs.

`They were like those wielding axes, cutting through a thicket / of~ trees.

`Now they break_ all its carved work down with hatchet / and~ hammers.

`They have burned your sanctuary / to the ground.

`They_ have profaned the dwelling place_ / of your Name.

`They said in their heart_, “We will crush_ / them completely.”

`They have burned up all the places in the land where / God was worshiped.

`We see no miracu / lous~ signs. • There `is no longer / any prophet,

`neither is there among us_ anyone who / knows how long.

How `long, O God_, shall the adver / sary mock?

`Shall the enemy blaspheme your / name forever? +

`Why do you hold back your hand, your / right~ hand?

`Stretch it out_ and con / sume~ them! 

(Ref)

Yet `God_ is my / King of old,

`work_ ing salvation through_ / out the earth.

`You divided the sea / by your strength.

You `broke the heads_ of the sea_ monsters / in the waters.

You `crushed the heads_ of Le / viathan.

You `gave_ him as food to people and_ / desert creatures.

You `opened up_ / spring and stream.

You `dried up / mighty rivers.

The `day is yours, the night is / also yours.

`You_ have prepared the light_ / and the sun.

`You have set_ all the bound’ries / of the earth.

`You have made_ summer / and~ winter. 

(Ref)

Re `member this_, that the enemy has / mocked you, LORD.

`Foolish people have blas / phemed your name.

Do `not deliver the life of your dove to / wild~ beasts.

Do `not forget the lives_ of your / poor forever.

`Honor your_ / covenant,

for `haunts of vi’lence fill the dark_ places / of the earth.

Do `not let the oppressed re / turn ashamed.

`Let the poor and needy / praise your name.

A `rise, O God! De / fend your cause.

Re `member how the foolish one_ mocks you / all day long.

Do `not forget the voice_ of your / adversaries.

The `tumult of those who rise up against you goes up / constantly.