17 Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,

weep between the portico and the altar.

Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.

Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,

a byword among the nations.

Why should they say among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar,

And let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord,

And give not thine heritage to reproach,

That the heathen should rule over them:

Wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

17 Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence,

stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar.

Let them pray, “Spare your people, Lord!

Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery.

Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say,

‘Has the God of Israel left them?’ ”

17 Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,

Weep between the porch and the altar;

Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord,

And do not give Your heritage to reproach,

That the nations should rule over them.

Why should they say among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

17 The priests, the Lord’s servants, should cry

between the altar and the entrance to the Temple.

They should say, “Lord, have mercy on your people.

Don’t let them be put to shame;

don’t let other nations make fun of them.

Don’t let people in other nations ask,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

17 Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Jehovah, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?

17 Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare, O Jehovah, thy people, and give not thine inheritance to reproach, that they should be a byword of the nations. Wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?

17 The priests who serve the Lord cry 

between the altar and the entrance to the temple. 

They say, 

“Spare your people, O Lord. 

Don’t let the people who belong to you become a disgrace. 

Don’t let the nations ridicule them. 

Why should people ask, ‘Where is their God?’ ” 

17 Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers,

weep between the portico and the altar.

Let them say:

“Have pity on Your people, Lord,

and do not make Your inheritance a disgrace,

an object of scorn among the nations.

Why should it be said among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

17 Between the vestibule and the altar

let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep.

Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord,

and do not make your heritage a mockery,

a byword among the nations.

Why should it be said among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

17 Between the colonnade and the altar,

let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep.

And let them say, “Take pity, Yahweh, on your people.

Do not make your inheritance a reproach,

a byword among the nations.

Why should they say among the nations,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

17 Let the priests who serve the Lord sob.

Let them cry between the temple porch and the altar.

Let them say, “Lord, spare your people.

Don’t let others make fun of them.

Don’t let the nations laugh at them.

Don’t let them tease your people and say,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

17 Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers,

Weep between the porch and the altar,

And let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord,

And do not make Your inheritance a reproach,

A byword among the nations.

Why should they among the peoples say,

‘Where is their God?’ ”