⁴ Those who were against you ·shouted [roared] in your meeting place
    and ·raised their flags [^Lset their signs as signs] there.
⁵ ·They came with axes raised [or They hacked at the upper entrances]
    as if to cut down a forest of trees.
⁶ They ·smashed [beat to pieces] the ·carved [engraved] panels
    with their axes and ·hatchets [crowbars].
⁷ They ·burned your Temple to the ground [^Lset your sanctuary/Holy Place on fire];
    they have made the ·place where you live [^Lresidence of your name] ·unclean [profane].
⁸ They ·thought [^Lsaid in their hearts], “We will completely crush them!”
    They burned ·every place where God was worshiped [^Lall the meeting places of God] in the land.
⁹ We do not see any signs.
    There are no more prophets [^Cwho can tell them what will happen],
    and no one knows how long this will last.
¹⁰ God, how much longer will the enemy ·make fun of [scorn] you?
    Will they ·insult [revile] ·you [^Lyour name] forever?
¹¹ Why do you ·hold back your power [^Lreturn your hand]?
    ·Bring your power out in the open [^LTake your right hand out of your bosom] and ·destroy [annihilate] them!

¹² God, you have been our king ·for a long time [of old; Ex. 15:18].
    You bring ·salvation [victory] to the earth.
¹³ You split open the sea by your power
    and broke the heads of the sea monster [^Can ancient Near Eastern symbol of chaos].
¹⁴ You ·smashed [crushed in pieces] the heads of the monster Leviathan [^Ca sea monster and symbol of chaos; 104:26; Job 3:8; 41:1; Is. 27:1]
    and gave it to the ·desert [wilderness] creatures as food.
¹⁵ You ·opened up [split] the springs and ·streams [wadis]
    and made the flowing rivers run dry.
¹⁶ Both the day and the night are yours;
    you made the sun and the moon [Gen. 1:14–18].
¹⁷ You set all the ·limits [borders] on the earth;
    you ·created [formed] summer and winter [104:19–23; Gen. 8:22].

¹⁸ Lord, remember how the enemy ·insulted [scorned] you.
    Remember how those foolish people ·made fun of you [^Lreviled your name].
¹⁹ Do not give us, your doves, to those wild animals.
    Never forget your poor people.
²⁰ ·Remember [Regard] the ·agreement [covenant] you made with us,
    because violence fills every dark corner of this land.
²¹ Do not let your ·suffering [crushed] people be ·disgraced [humiliated].
    Let the poor and ·helpless [needy] praise ·you [^Lyour name].
²² God, arise and ·defend [contend for] yourself.
    Remember the ·insults [scorn] that come from those foolish people all day long.
²³ Don’t forget what your enemies said;
    don’t forget their roar as they rise against you always.