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.

²⁴ Therefore, as tongues of fire^(A) lick up straw^(B)
    and as dry grass sinks down in the flames,
so their roots will decay^(C)
    and their flowers blow away like dust;^(D)
for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty
    and spurned the word^(E) of the Holy One^(F) of Israel.
²⁵ Therefore the Lord’s anger^(G) burns against his people;
    his hand is raised and he strikes them down.
The mountains shake,^(H)
    and the dead bodies^(I) are like refuse^(J) in the streets.^(K)

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,^(L)
    his hand is still upraised.^(M)

²⁶ He lifts up a banner^(N) for the distant nations,
    he whistles^(O) for those at the ends of the earth.^(P)
Here they come,
    swiftly and speedily!
²⁷ Not one of them grows tired^(Q) or stumbles,
    not one slumbers or sleeps;
not a belt^(R) is loosened at the waist,^(S)
    not a sandal strap is broken.^(T)
28 Their arrows are sharp,^(U)
    all their bows^(V) are strung;
their horses’ hooves^(W) seem like flint,
    their chariot wheels like a whirlwind.^(X)
29 Their roar is like that of the lion,^(Y)
    they roar like young lions;
they growl as they seize^(Z) their prey
    and carry it off with no one to rescue.^(AA)
30 In that day^(AB) they will roar over it
    like the roaring of the sea.^(AC)
And if one looks at the land,
    there is only darkness^(AD) and distress;^(AE)
    even the sun will be darkened^(AF) by clouds.

⁴⁹ “‘Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.^(I)
What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.
    Or where will my resting place be?
⁵⁰ Has not my hand made all these things?’^[b](J)