Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” ¹  and call understanding a close relative,

The word of the Lord who rules over all then came to me,

For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; ²  a psalm of Asaph; a song. We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks! You reveal your presence; ³  people tell about your amazing deeds.

So about three thousand men went up, but they fled from the men of Ai.

So the Israelites ¹  removed the Baals and images of Ashtoreth. They served only the Lord.

or have wronged my ally, ¹  or helped his lawless enemy, ² 

Hurry and look ¹  at the permanent ruins, and all the damage the enemy has done to the temple! ² 

Your enemies roar ¹  in the middle of your sanctuary; ²  they set up their battle flags. ³ 

They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrate your dwelling place by knocking it to the ground. ¹ 

How long, O God, will the adversary hurl insults? Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever?

Why do you remain inactive? Intervene and destroy him! ¹ 

But God has been my ¹  king from ancient times, performing acts of deliverance on the earth. ² 

You destroyed ¹  the sea by your strength; you shattered the heads of the sea monster ²  in the water.

You crushed the heads of Leviathan; ¹  you fed ²  him to the people who live along the coast. ³ 

You established the cycle of day and night; ¹  you put the moon ²  and sun in place. ³ 

You set up all the boundaries ¹  of the earth; you created the cycle of summer and winter. ² 

Remember how ¹  the enemy hurls insults, O Lord, ²  and how a foolish nation blasphemes your name!

Remember your covenant promises, ¹  for the dark regions of the earth are full of places where violence rules. ² 

Do not let the afflicted be turned back in shame! Let the oppressed and poor praise your name! ¹ 

Rise up, O God! Defend your honor! ¹  Remember how fools insult you all day long! ²