A Prayer for the Nation
74 O God, why have You turned away from us forever? Why does Your anger burn against the sheep in Your fields? 2 Remember Your people that You bought a long time ago. You made them free to be the family of Your promise, and Mount Zion, where You have lived. 3 Turn Your steps toward this place that has been destroyed forever. Those who hate You have destroyed all that is in the holy place. 4 Those who hate You have called out in the center of Your meeting place. They have set up their flags to show that they have won. 5 They acted like men taking up axes against a group of trees. 6 All of its fine work has been broken with axes and sticks. 7 They have burned Your holy place to the dust. They have made dirty the house of Your name. 8 They said in their hearts, “Let us destroy all of these places!” They have burned all the meeting places where God was worshiped in the land. 9 We do not see any special things happening. There is no longer anyone who speaks for God. And none of us knows how long this will be. 10 O God, how long will those who hate You laugh at the truth? Will they speak against Your name forever? 11 Why do You take Your hand away, even Your right hand? Put it out and destroy them!
12 God is still my King from long ago. He does saving works upon the earth. 13 You divided the sea by Your power. You broke the heads of the large dragons in the waters. 14 You crushed the heads of the Leviathan. And You fed him to the animals of the desert. 15 It was You Who opened up the earth for water to flow out. And You dried up rivers that flow forever. 16 The day is Yours. And the night is Yours. You have set the light and the sun in their places. 17 You have divided all the lands and seas and nations of the earth. You have made summer and winter.
18 Remember how those who hate You have laughed at the truth, O Lord. Foolish people have spoken against Your name. 19 Do not give the life of Your dove over to the wild animal. Do not forget the lives of Your troubled people forever. 20 Think about Your agreement. For the dark places of the land are full of fighting. 21 Do not let those who suffer under a bad power return without honor. Let those who suffer and those who are in need praise Your name.
22 Rise up, O God. Stand up for Your rights. Remember how the foolish man speaks against You all day long. 23 Do not forget the voice of those who hate You, the noise that comes without stopping from those who rise against You.