Psalm 74

A maskil[a] of Asaph.

O God, why have you rejected(A) us forever?(B)
    Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?(C)
Remember the nation you purchased(D) long ago,(E)
    the people of your inheritance,(F) whom you redeemed(G)
    Mount Zion,(H) where you dwelt.(I)
Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,(J)
    all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

Your foes roared(K) in the place where you met with us;
    they set up their standards(L) as signs.
They behaved like men wielding axes
    to cut through a thicket of trees.(M)
They smashed all the carved(N) paneling
    with their axes and hatchets.
They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
    they defiled(O) the dwelling place(P) of your Name.(Q)
They said in their hearts, “We will crush(R) them completely!”
    They burned(S) every place where God was worshiped in the land.

We are given no signs from God;(T)
    no prophets(U) are left,
    and none of us knows how long this will be.
10 How long(V) will the enemy mock(W) you, God?
    Will the foe revile(X) your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?(Y)
    Take it from the folds of your garment(Z) and destroy them!

12 But God is my King(AA) from long ago;
    he brings salvation(AB) on the earth.

13 It was you who split open the sea(AC) by your power;
    you broke the heads of the monster(AD) in the waters.
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan(AE)
    and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.(AF)
15 It was you who opened up springs(AG) and streams;
    you dried up(AH) the ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
    you established the sun and moon.(AI)
17 It was you who set all the boundaries(AJ) of the earth;
    you made both summer and winter.(AK)

18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,
    how foolish people(AL) have reviled your name.
19 Do not hand over the life of your dove(AM) to wild beasts;
    do not forget the lives of your afflicted(AN) people forever.
20 Have regard for your covenant,(AO)
    because haunts of violence fill the dark places(AP) of the land.
21 Do not let the oppressed(AQ) retreat in disgrace;
    may the poor and needy(AR) praise your name.
22 Rise up,(AS) O God, and defend your cause;
    remember how fools(AT) mock you all day long.
23 Do not ignore the clamor(AU) of your adversaries,(AV)
    the uproar(AW) of your enemies,(AX) which rises continually.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 74:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

An instruction[a] of Asaph

A Plea for Deliverance

74 Why, God? Have you rejected us forever?
    Your anger is burning against the sheep of your pasture.

Remember your community,
whom you purchased long ago,
the tribe whom you redeemed
    for your possession.
Remember[b] Mount Zion,
    where you live.
        Hurry! Look at the permanent ruins—
    every calamity the enemy brought upon the Holy Place.

Those who are opposing you roar
    where we were meeting with you;
        they unfurl their war banners as signs.
As one blazes a trail
    through a forest with an ax,
now they’re tearing down all its carved work
    with hatchets and hammers.
They burned your sanctuary to the ground,
    desecrating your dwelling place.
They say to themselves,
    “We’ll crush them completely;”
        They burned down all the meeting places of God in the land.

We see no signs for us;
    there is no longer a prophet,
        and no one among us knows the future.[c]
10 God, how long will the adversary scorn
    while the enemy despises your name endlessly?
11 Why do you not withdraw your hand—
    your right hand—from your bosom
        and destroy them?[d]

12 But God is my king from ancient times,
    who brings acts of deliverance throughout the earth.
13 You split the sea by your own power.
    You shattered the heads of sea monsters in the water.
14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan.
    You set it as food for desert creatures.[e]
15 You opened both the spring and the river;
    you dried up flowing rivers.
16 Yours is the day, and yours is the night;
    you established the moon and the sun.
17 You set all the boundaries of the earth;
    you made summer and winter.

18 Remember this: The enemy scorns the Lord
    and a foolish people despises your name.
19 Don’t hand over the life of your dove to beasts;
    do not continuously forget your afflicted ones.

20 Pay attention to your covenant,
    for the dark regions of the earth are full of violence.
21 Don’t let the oppressed return in humiliation.
    The poor and needy will praise your name.

22 Get up, God, and prosecute your case—
    remember that you’re being scorned
        by fools all day long.
23 Don’t ignore the shout of those opposing you,
    The uproar of those who rebel against you continuously.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 74:1 Lit. maskil
  2. Psalm 74:2 The Heb. lacks Remember
  3. Psalm 74:9 Lit. knows when
  4. Psalm 74:11 The Heb. lacks them
  5. Psalm 74:14 Or people