Why Have You Rejected Us Forever?
(Psalm 79:1-13;Jeremiah 52:1-11)
1{{Maschilof Asaph.}} O God,why hast thou cast [us] offfor ever?[why] doth thine angersmokeagainst the sheepof thy pasture?
2Rememberthy congregation,[which] thou hast purchasedof old;the rodof thine inheritance,[which] thou hast redeemed;this mountZion,wherein thou hast dwelt.
3Lift upthy feetunto the perpetualdesolations;[even] all [that] the enemyhath done wickedlyin the sanctuary.
4Thine enemiesroarin the midstof thy congregations;they set uptheir ensigns[for] signs.
5[A man] was famousaccording as he had lifted upaxesupon the thicktrees.
6But now they break downthe carved workthereof at oncewith axesand hammers.
7They have castfireinto thy sanctuary,they have defiled[by casting down] the dwelling placeof thy nameto the ground.
8They saidin their hearts,Let us destroythem together:they have burned upall the synagoguesof Godin the land.
9We seenot our signs:[there is] no more any prophet:neither [is there] among us any that knowethhow long.
10O God,how long shall the adversaryreproach?shall the enemyblasphemethy namefor ever?
11Why withdrawestthou thy hand,even thy right hand?pluck[it] out ofthy bosom.
12For God[is] my Kingof old,workingsalvationin the midstof the earth.
13Thou didst dividethe seaby thy strength:thou brakestthe headsof the dragonsin the waters.
14Thou brakestthe headsof leviathanin pieces, [and] gavesthim [to be] meatto the peopleinhabiting the wilderness.
15Thou didst cleavethe fountainand the flood:thou driedst upmightyrivers.
16The day[is] thine, the nightalso [is] thine: thou hast preparedthe lightand the sun.
17Thou hast setall the bordersof the earth:thou hast madesummerand winter.
18Rememberthis, [that] the enemyhath reproached,O LORD,and [that] the foolishpeoplehave blasphemedthy name.
19O delivernot the soulof thy turtledoveunto the multitude[of the wicked]: forgetnot the congregationof thy poorfor ever.
20Have respectunto the covenant:for the darkplaces of the earthare fullof the habitationsof cruelty.
21O let not the oppressedreturnashamed:let the poorand needypraisethy name.
22Arise,O God,pleadthine own cause:rememberhow the foolish manreproacheththee daily.
23Forgetnot the voiceof thine enemies:the tumultof those that rise upagainst thee increasethcontinually.
