A Prayer for the Disgraced
[9] But now you have rejected and humbled us;
you no longer go out with our armies.
[10] You made us retreat before the enemy,
and our adversaries have plundered us.
[11] You gave us up to be devoured like sheep
and have scattered us among the nations.
[12] You sold your people for a pittance,
gaining nothing from their sale.
[13] You have made us a reproach to our neighbors,
the scorn and derision of those around us.
[14] You have made us a byword among the nations;
the peoples shake their heads at us.
[15] I live in disgrace all day long,
and my face is covered with shame
[16] at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me,
because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.
[17] All this came upon us,
though we had not forgotten you;
we had not been false to your covenant.
[18] Our hearts had not turned back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
[19] But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals;
you covered us over with deep darkness.
[20] If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
[21] would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?
[22] Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
[23] Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
[24] Why do you hide your face
and forget our misery and oppression?
[25] We are brought down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.
[26] Rise up and help us;
rescue us because of your unfailing love.
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Keep the Faith. Best regards,
Bro. Rontabs, N.D.S.M.D.
