1. Understanding for Asaph.O God, why hast thou cast us off unto the end: why is thy wrath enkindled against the sheep of thy pasture?
2. Remember thy congregation, which thou hast possessed from the beginning. The sceptre of thy inheritance which thou hast redeemed: mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt.
3. Lift up thy hands against their pride unto the end; see what things the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
4. And they that hate thee have made their boasts, in the midst of thy solemnity. They have set up their ensigns for signs,
5. and they knew not both in the going out and on the highest top. As with axes in a wood of trees,
6. they have cut down at once the gates thereof, with axe and hatchet they have brought it down.
7. They have set fire to thy sanctuary: they have defiled the dwelling place of thy name on the earth.
8. They said in their heart, the whole kindred of them together: Let us abolish all the festival days of God from the land.
9. Our signs we have not seen, there is now no prophet: and he will know us no more.
10. How long, O God, shall the enemy reproach: is the adversary to provoke thy name for ever?
11. Why dost thou turn away thy hand: and thy right hand out of the midst of thy bosom for ever?
12. But God is our king before ages: he hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.