A Maskil of Asaf. O God, why hast Thou cast us off for ever? why does Thy anger smoke against the sheep of Thy pasture?

A maskil of Asaf. Why, O G d, should You leave us forever, should Your wrath fume against the flock of Your grazing?

Remember Thy congregation, which Thou hast purchased of old; the tribe of Thy inheritance, which Thou hast redeemed; this mount Żiyyon, wherein Thou hast dwelt.

Remember Your congregation that You acquired of yore [(before the creation of the world [viz. 90:1-2])]. You redeemed the tribe of Your inheritance [and brought them to] Mount Zion, on which You dwell.

Lift up Thy feet to the perpetual desolations; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary.

Raise Your blows for eternal destruction [(of Your foes)], for all of the foe's evil [perpetrated] in the sanctuary.

Thy enemies roar in the midst of thy meeting place; they set up their signs for signs:

Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place [(the Temple viz. Exodus 25:22)]; they have made [i.e., construed] their signs [i.e., their divinations for the conquest of Jerusalem (viz. Ezekiel 21:26)] as [true] signs.

they are known as swingers of axes upwards in the thick forest:

It was known [to the foe when he raised his hatchets against the gates of the sanctuary that it was] as if he were bringing [his blows] on High, for the hatchets would become entangled in [and be swallowed up by] the wood [of the gates].

and now they break down its carved work altogether with hatchet and with hammers.

But then [(even though he saw this sign of G d's opposition, this did not deter him from razing all of)] its entrances together. With hatchets and hammers they pounded.

They have burned Thy sanctuary with fire, to the ground: they have defiled the dwelling place of Thy name.

They have set Your sanctuary aflame. To the ground have they desecrated the abode of Your name.

They have said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.

They said [i.e., devised] in their hearts, [all of] their rulers together, [to eliminate their Deity first, and then to eliminate the Jews. Know this to be so, for] they burned all the meeting places of G d in the land: [the Philistines, Shiloh; Nevuchadnezzar, the first Temple; Titus, the second Temple].

We see not our signs: there is no longer a prophet: nor is there among us any that knows how long.

Our signs [(given by the prophets for redemption from the exile)] we have not [yet] seen. There is no longer a prophet [among us], and there is none among us who knows until when [the exile will endure].

O God, how long shall the adversary insult? shall the enemy blaspheme Thy name for ever?

Until when, O G d, shall the oppressor revile, shall the foe blaspheme Your name forever?

Why dost Thou withdraw Thy hand, even Thy right hand? out of Thy bosom with it! destroy!

Why do You hold back Your hand, Your right hand, [from smiting the foe]? From the midst of Your bosom, discharge [it against them]!

for God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

And [You, my] G d, are my King of yore, who works salvation in the midst of the land!

Thou didst divide the sea by Thy strength: Thou didst break the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.

You crumbled the sea in Your strength. You broke the heads of the sea-serpents [the Egyptians (viz. Ezekiel 29:3)] on the waters.

Thou didst crush the heads of livyatan: thou didst give him for food to the desert people.

You broke the heads of the leviathan [Pharaoh (viz. Isaiah 27:1)]. You gave it [the wealth of Egypt] as food [i.e., plunder] for the people, the hosts, [of Israel].

Thou didst split open springs and wadis: Thou didst dry up the ever flowing streams.

You split [for Israel from the rock] fountain and stream. You dried up mighty rivers [(the Jordan)].

The day is Thine, the night also is Thine: Thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

Yours is the day [(the redemption of Israel)]. Yours, too, is the night [(They were with You in the afflictions of the night)]. You founded [for them] light [(Torah)] and sun.

Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: Thou hast made summer and winter.

You set up [for them] all the borders of the land of Israel with all manner of good]. Summer and winter — You created them [(and You did not alter their order)].

Remember this, how the enemy has insulted the Lord, and how a base people have blasphemed Thy name.

[Then, Your having done all this for us,] remember this: The foe has reviled the L rd; a profligate people has blasphemed Your name.

O deliver not the soul of Thy turtledove to the wild beast: forget not the congregation of Thy poor for ever.

Do not give to the company [of the idolators] the soul of Your dove [Israel]. The soul of Your afflicted ones forget not forever.

Look upon the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full, the habitations of cruelty.

Look to the covenant [(with the patriarchs)], for the dark places of the land have become filled with enclaves of violence.

O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise Thy name.

Let the broken one not return shamed [from his prayer before You]. Let the poor and destitute praise Your name [(when You answer their prayers)].

Arise, O God, plead Thy own cause: remember how the foolish man insults Thee daily.

Arise, O G d, fight Your battle. Remember the profligate's reviling You all the day.

Forget not the voice of Thy enemies: the tumult of those who rise up against Thee increases continually.

Forget not the voice of Your adversaries, the ever rising roar of those who rise against You.