Commentary on Psalms - Volume 5

1Wherefore, O God! hast thou cast us off for ever? [Why] smoketh thy wrath against the flock of thy pastures?

2Remember thy congregation which thou hast possessed of old; ³⁴⁵ Which thou hast redeemed, the rod of thy inheritance, This Mount Zion in which thou hast dwelt.

3Lift up thy strokes to desolations perpetual, Against every enemy who doeth mischief to the sanctuary.

4Roared like lions have thy adversaries in the midst of thy sanctuaries; They have set up their signs for signs.

5He was renowned as doing an excellent work Who lifted up the axes upon the thick trees. ³⁴⁶

6And now the carved works thereof together, With the hatchet and with hammers they break in pieces.

7They have set on fire thy sanctuaries; Leveling it with the ground, they have polluted the dwelling-place of thy name.

8They have said in their heart, “Let us destroy them altogether.” They have burned all the tabernacles of God in the land.

9Our signs we see not; There is no longer a prophet, Nor is there with us one who knoweth how long! —

10How long, O God! shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

11How long wilt thou withdraw thy hand, and thy right hand? In the midst, of thy bosom consume them.

12But God is my king from the beginning, Working salvations in the midst of the earth.

13Thou didst divide ³⁴⁷ by thy power the sea; Thou didst break the heads of dragons in the waters.

14Thou didst break the head of the leviathan; Thou gavest him for food to thy people in the wilderness.

15Thou didst cleave the fountain and the torrent: Thou didst dry up mighty rivers.

16Thine is the day; thine also is the night: Thou hast ordained the light and the sun.

17Thou hast fixed all the boundaries of the earth: The summer and the winter thou hast made.

18Remember this: the enemy hath reproached Jehovah; And a worthless people hath done despite to thy name.

19Give not to the beast the soul of thy turtle dove: The congregation of thy poor ones forget not for ever.

20Have regard to thy covenant; For filled are the dark places of the earth with the abodes of violence.

21Let not the afflicted one return ashamed; Let the poor and needy one praise thy name.

22Arise, O God! plead thy own cause: Remember thy reproach, which is done thee by the foolish man daily.

23Forget not the voice of thy adversaries: The tumult of those who rise up against thee ascendeth continually.