KJV ORIGINAL
The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Your holy people possessed the land for only a short time; our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is lamenting that God's people only briefly enjoyed their promised land before enemies came and destroyed God's holy temple.
📚 Historical Context
This verse likely refers to the brief period when the Israelites returned from Babylonian exile and rebuilt the temple, only to face continued opposition from surrounding nations. The 'sanctuary' refers to the temple in Jerusalem, which was central to Jewish worship and represented God's presence among His people. The lament reflects the ongoing struggles of the post-exilic community who felt their restoration was incomplete.
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