“Our hearts
Are sick
Because of this.
Our eyes
Have grown dim
Because of these things.
Mount Zion
Lies desolate.
Jackals prowl
Over it.”
The hearts of the people of Jerusalem are sick. Their eyes have grown dim. Mount Zion has become desolate. The famous jackals prowl all around the city.
“Each evening
They come back.
They are howling like dogs.
They are prowling about the city.
There they are.
They bellow with their mouths.
They have sharp words on their lips.
They think.
‘Who will hear us?’”
The wicked ones are like howling dogs at night. They prowl around the city bellowing. They have sharp words on their lips. They think that no one can hear them so they growl and shout louder.
“Yahweh!
You will protect us!
You will guard us from this generation forever.
On every side
The wicked prowl.
As vileness is exalted among humankind.”
Now there is a direct appeal to Yahweh. Yahweh will protect the faithful ones and guard them from this wicked generation. These wicked people prowl around as their vileness is exalted everywhere. So ends this short psalm with a confident cry to Yahweh.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 