[1] God, did you leave us forever? Are you still angry at your people?
[2] Remember the people you bought long ago. You saved us. We belong to you. Remember Mount Zion, the place that you lived.
[3] God, come walk through these ancient ruins. Come back to the Holy Place that the enemy destroyed.
[4] The enemy shouted their war cries in the temple. They put their flags in the temple to show they won the war.
[5] The enemy soldiers were like people cutting weeds with a hoe.
[6] God, they used their axes and hatchets, and cut the carved, wooden panels in your temple.
[7] Those soldiers burned your Holy Place. That temple was built to honor your name. But they pulled it down to the ground.
[8] The enemy decided to crush us completely. They burned every holy place in the country.
[9] We could not see any of our own signs. There are no more prophets. No person knows what to do.
[10] God, how much longer will the enemy make fun of us? Will you let them insult your name forever?
[11] God, why did you punish us so hard? You used your great power and destroyed us completely!
[12] God, you have been our King for a long time. You helped us win many battles in this country.
[13] God, you used your great power, to split open the Red Sea. You defeated the great sea monsters!
[14] You smashed the heads of Leviathan, and left his body for the animals to eat.
[15] You make the springs and rivers flow. And you make the rivers become dry.
[16] God, you control the day, and you control the night. You made the moon and the sun.
[17] You set the limits for everything on earth. And you created summer and winter.
[18] God, remember these things. Remember, the enemy insulted you! Those foolish people hate your name!
[19] Don’t let those wild animals take your dove! Don’t forget your poor people forever.
[20] Remember our Agreement! There is violence in every dark place in this land.
[21] God, your people were treated badly. Don’t let them be hurt anymore. Your poor, helpless people praise you.
[22] God, get up and fight! Remember, those fools challenged you!
[23] Don’t forget the shouts of your enemies. They insulted you again and again.