(A special psalm by Asaph.)
A Prayer for the Nation in Times of Trouble
1 Our God, why have you
completely rejected us?
Why are you so angry
with the ones you care for?
2 Remember the people
you rescued long ago,
the tribe you chose
for your very own.
Think of Mount Zion,
your home;
3 walk over to the temple
left in ruins forever
by those who hate us.
4 Your enemies roared like lions
in your holy temple,
and they have placed
their banners there.
5 It looks like a forest
chopped to pieces.
6 They used axes and hatchets
to smash the carvings.
7 They burned down your temple
and badly disgraced it.
8 They said to themselves,
“We'll crush them!”
Then they burned every one
of your meeting places
all over the country.
9 There are no more miracles
and no more prophets.
Who knows how long
it will be like this?
10 Our God, how much longer
will our enemies sneer?
Won't they ever stop
insulting you?
11 Why don't you punish them?
Why are you holding back?
12 Our God and King,
you have ruled
since ancient times;
you have won victories
everywhere on this earth.
13 By your power you made a path
through the sea,
and you smashed the heads
of sea monsters.
14 You crushed the heads
of the monster Leviathan,
then fed him to wild creatures
in the desert.
15 You opened the ground
for streams and springs
and dried up mighty rivers.
16 You rule the day and the night,
and you put the moon
and the sun in place.
17 You made summer and winter
and gave them to the earth.
18 Remember your enemies, Lord!
They foolishly sneer
and won't respect you.
19 You treat us like pet doves,
but they mistreat us.
Don't keep forgetting us
and letting us be fed
to those wild animals.
20 Remember the agreement
you made with us.
Violent enemies are hiding
in every dark corner
of the earth.
21 Don't disappoint those in need
or make them turn from you,
but help the poor and homeless
to shout your praises.
22 Do something, God!
Defend yourself.
Remember how those fools
sneer at you all day long.
23 Don't forget the loud shouts
of your enemies.
Sēru dziesma pie svētnīcas drupām
1 Asafa pamācības dziesma. Kādēļ Tu, ak, Dievs, mūs esi atstūmis uz mūžīgiem laikiem, un kāpēc Tavas dusmas kūp pār Tavas ganības avīm? 2 Piemini Savus ļaudis, ko Tu esi mantojis jau sensenos laikos, ko Tu Sev ar burtogu ieguvi kā Savu īpašuma daļu, kā tieši Tev piederīgu tautu līdz ar Ciānas kalnu, kur Tu mājo! 3 Virzi Savus soļus uz mūžīgajām drupām! Ienaidnieks visu ir sadragājis svētnīcā. 4 Tavi pretinieki rēc Tavā namā un uzstatījuši tur savus karogus kā uzvaras zīmes. 5 Viņi, liekas, cirtuši kā tādi, kas meža biezoknī augstu cilā cirvjus, 6 un šodien vēl viņi ar cirvjiem un kaukļiem sadauza tur izgrebtos izgreznojumus. 7 Viņi meta uguni Tavā svētnīcā, sagandēja līdz pamatiem Tava Vārda mājokli. 8 Viņi nolēma savās sirdīs: iznīcināsim itin visus Tā Kunga mājokļus! Un viņi nodedzināja visas svētnīcas zemē. 9 Savas zīmes vairs neredzam, nav vairs neviena pravieša, nav neviena pie mums, kas zinātu, cik ilgi vēl tas tā turpināsies. 10 Cik ilgi, ak, Dievs, pretinieks vēl nievāsies, un vai ienaidnieks mūžīgi nopels Tavu Vārdu? 11 Kāpēc Tu atrauj Savu roku? Velc Savu labo roku no azotes laukā un iznīcini viņus! 12 Tomēr Dievs ir mans ķēniņš no pirmatnes, kas dara Savus glābēja darbus virs zemes. 13 Tu esi sabangojis jūru ar Savu spēku, sadragājis pūķu galvas virs ūdens. 14 Tu esi satriecis leviatāna galvas un atdevis tās par barību tuksneša zvēru pulkam. 15 Tu esi licis izplūst avotiem un strautiem, bet tāpat Tu esi licis izkalst neizsīkstošām upēm. 16 Tev pieder diena un nakts, Tu esi radījis gaismu un sauli. 17 Tu esi novilcis robežas ap visu zemi, Tu esi izveidojis vasaru un ziemu. 18 Piemini to, ka ienaidnieks nievājis Tevi, ak, Kungs, un nelietīga tauta negodā likusi Tavu Vārdu! 19 Neatdod zvēram Savas ūbeles dvēseli, Savu cietēju pulku neaizmirsti nemūžam! 20 Skaties uz tiem, kas ar Tevi slēguši derību, jo visas zemes malas ir pilnas varmācības. 21 Lai apspiestais neaiziet vīlies un apkaunots, lai zemais un nabags slavē Tavu Vārdu! 22 Celies, Dievs, aizstāvi Savu lietu! Piemini, ka bezprāši savā zemiskumā Tevi nievā ik dienas! 23 Neaizmirsti Savu ienaidnieku necienīgo klaigāšanu, Savu pretinieku trakošanu, kas nemitīgi pieaug savā spēkā.
