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.
A Prayer for National Deliverance
1 Why have you abandoned us like this, O God?
Will you be angry with your own people forever?
2 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 Walk over these total ruins;
our enemies have destroyed everything in the Temple.
4 Your enemies have shouted in triumph in your Temple;
they have placed their flags there as signs of victory.
5 They looked like woodsmen
cutting down trees with their axes.
6 They smashed all the wooden panels
with their axes and sledge hammers.
7 They wrecked your Temple and set it on fire;
they desecrated the place where you are worshiped.
8 They wanted to crush us completely;
they burned down every holy place in the land.
9 All our sacred symbols are gone;
there are no prophets left,
and no one knows how long this will last.
10 How long, O God, will our enemies laugh at you?
Will they insult your name forever?
11 Why have you refused to help us?
Why do you keep your hands behind you?
12 But you have been our king from the beginning, O God;
you have saved us many times.
13 With your mighty strength you divided the sea
and smashed the heads of the sea monsters;
14 you crushed the heads of the monster Leviathan
and fed his body to desert animals.
15 You made springs and fountains flow;
you dried up large rivers.
16 You created the day and the night;
you set the sun and the moon in their places;
17 you set the limits of the earth;
you made summer and winter.
18 But remember, O Lord, that your enemies laugh at you,
that they are godless and despise you.
19 Don't abandon your helpless people to their cruel enemies;
don't forget your persecuted people!
20 Remember the covenant you made with us.
There is violence in every dark corner of the land.
21 Don't let the oppressed be put to shame;
let those poor and needy people praise you.
22 Rouse yourself, God, and defend your cause!
Remember that godless people laugh at you all day long.
23 Don't forget the angry shouts of your enemies,
the continuous noise made by your foes.
