53. God led them in safety—they were not afraid!But the sea engulfed their enemies!
54. God brought them to his holy territory,to the mountain that his own strong hand had acquired.
55. God drove out the nations before themand apportioned property for them;he settled Israel’s tribes in their tents.
56. But they tested and defied the Most High God;they didn’t pay attention to his warnings.
57. They turned away, became faithless just like their ancestors;they twisted away like a defective bow.
58. They angered God with their many shrines;they angered him with their idols.
59. God heard and became enraged;he rejected Israel utterly.
60. God abandoned the sanctuary at Shiloh,the tent where he had lived with humans.
61. God let his power be held captive,let his glory go to the enemy’s hand.
62. God delivered his people up to the sword;he was enraged at his own possession.
63. Fire devoured his young men,and his young women had no wedding songs.
64. God’s priests were killed by the sword,and his widows couldn’t even cry.
65. But then my Lord woke up—as if he’d been sleeping!Like a warrior shaking off wine,
66. God beat back his foes;he made them an everlasting disgrace.
67. God rejected the tent of Josephand didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim.
68. Instead, he chose the tribe of Judah,the mountain of Zion, which he loves.
69. God built his sanctuary like the highest heavenand like the earth, which he established forever.