⁴ Your foes roared^(K) in the place where you met with us;
    they set up their standards^(L) as signs.
⁵ They behaved like men wielding axes
    to cut through a thicket of trees.^(M)
6 They smashed all the carved^(N) paneling
    with their axes and hatchets.
⁷ They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
    they defiled^(O) the dwelling place^(P) of your Name.^(Q)
8 They said in their hearts, “We will crush^(R) them completely!”
    They burned^(S) every place where God was worshiped in the land.

⁹ We are given no signs from God;^(T)
    no prophets^(U) are left,
    and none of us knows how long this will be.
¹⁰ How long^(V) will the enemy mock^(W) you, God?
    Will the foe revile^(X) your name forever?
¹¹ Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?^(Y)
    Take it from the folds of your garment^(Z) and destroy them!

¹² But God is my King^(AA) from long ago;
    he brings salvation^(AB) on the earth.

¹³ It was you who split open the sea^(AC) by your power;
    you broke the heads of the monster^(AD) in the waters.
¹⁴ It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan^(AE)
    and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.^(AF)
15 It was you who opened up springs^(AG) and streams;
    you dried up^(AH) the ever-flowing rivers.
¹⁶ The day is yours, and yours also the night;
    you established the sun and moon.^(AI)
17 It was you who set all the boundaries^(AJ) of the earth;
    you made both summer and winter.^(AK)

¹⁸ Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,
    how foolish people^(AL) have reviled your name.
¹⁹ Do not hand over the life of your dove^(AM) to wild beasts;
    do not forget the lives of your afflicted^(AN) people forever.
²⁰ Have regard for your covenant,^(AO)
    because haunts of violence fill the dark places^(AP) of the land.
²¹ Do not let the oppressed^(AQ) retreat in disgrace;
    may the poor and needy^(AR) praise your name.
²² Rise up,^(AS) O God, and defend your cause;
    remember how fools^(AT) mock you all day long.
²³ Do not ignore the clamor^(AU) of your adversaries,^(AV)
    the uproar^(AW) of your enemies,^(AX) which rises continually.

¹³ “Woe^(A) to him who builds^(B) his palace by unrighteousness,
    his upper rooms by injustice,
making his own people work for nothing,
    not paying^(C) them for their labor.
¹⁴ He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace^(D)
    with spacious upper rooms.’
So he makes large windows in it,
    panels it with cedar^(E)
    and decorates it in red.^(F)

¹⁵ “Does it make you a king
    to have more and more cedar?
Did not your father have food and drink?
    He did what was right and just,^(G)
    so all went well^(H) with him.
¹⁶ He defended the cause of the poor and needy,^(I)
    and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know^(J) me?”
    declares the Lord.
¹⁷ “But your eyes and your heart
    are set only on dishonest gain,^(K)
on shedding innocent blood^(L)
    and on oppression and extortion.”^(M)

“They will not mourn^(N) for him:
    ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’
They will not mourn for him:
    ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’
¹⁹ He will have the burial^(O) of a donkey—
    dragged away and thrown^(P)
    outside the gates of Jerusalem.”

²⁰ “Go up to Lebanon and cry out,^(Q)
    let your voice be heard in Bashan,^(R)
cry out from Abarim,^(S)
    for all your allies^(T) are crushed.
²¹ I warned you when you felt secure,^(U)
    but you said, ‘I will not listen!’
This has been your way from your youth;^(V)
    you have not obeyed^(W) me.
²² The wind^(X) will drive all your shepherds^(Y) away,
    and your allies^(Z) will go into exile.
Then you will be ashamed and disgraced^(AA)
    because of all your wickedness.
²³ You who live in ‘Lebanon,^[a](AB)’
    who are nestled in cedar buildings,
how you will groan when pangs come upon you,
    pain^(AC) like that of a woman in labor!