Page:Book of common prayer (TEC, 1979).pdf/689

 Though my flesh and my heart should waste away, * God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

Truly, those who forsake you will perish; * you destroy all who are unfaithful.

But it is good for me to be near God; * I have made the Lord G my refuge.

I will speak of all your works * in the gates of the city of Zion.

O God, why have you utterly cast us off? * why is your wrath so hot against the sheep of your pasture?

Remember your congregation that you purchased long ago, * the tribe you redeemed to be your inheritance, and Mount Zion where you dwell.

Turn your steps toward the endless ruins; * the enemy has laid waste everything in your sanctuary.

Your adversaries roared in your holy place; * they set up their banners as tokens of victory.

They were like men coming up with axes to a grove of trees; * they broke down all your carved work with hatchets and hammers.

They set fire to your holy place; * they defiled the dwelling&#8209;place of your Name and razed it to the ground.

They said to themselves, “Let us destroy them altogether.” * They burned down all the meeting&#8209;places of God in the land.