Psalms 74

1 A psalm (maskil) of Asaph. God, why have you rejected us? Is it forever? Why does your anger burn so hot against the sheep of your own field?

A Maskil of Asaph. Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture?

2 Remember the people you made your own long ago, the tribe you redeemed and made your own. Remember too Mount Zion, the place where you live.

Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe of Your inheritance— Mount Zion where You dwell.

3 Come and walk through the complete devastation. The enemy has totally destroyed your Temple.

Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins, to everything in the sanctuary the enemy has destroyed.

4 The enemy shouted in triumph right where you met with us. There they set up their war banners as signs of their victory.

Your foes have roared within Your meeting place; they have unfurled their banners as signs,

5 They acted like men chopping down a forest with axes.

like men wielding axes in a thicket of trees

6 With axes and hammers they smashed in the carved wooden panels.

and smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks.

7 Then they set fire to your Temple, burning it to the ground. They defiled the place where you live, the place that bears your name.

They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; they have defiled the dwelling place of Your Name.

8 They said to themselves, “Let's destroy it all!” So they burned down every place where God was worshiped throughout the land.

They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely.” They burned down every place where God met us in the land.

9 We no longer see any signs. There are no prophets left. And no one among us knows how long this will last.

There are no signs for us to see. There is no longer any prophet. And none of us knows how long this will last.

10 How long will the enemy ridicule you, God? Will they insult your character forever?

How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever?

11 Why do you hold back from doing something? Take action and destroy them!

Why do You withdraw Your strong right hand? Stretch it out to destroy them!

12 But you, God, are our king from long ago. You have saved us many times in the land.

Yet God is my King from ancient times, working salvation on the earth.

13 You were the one who split apart the sea by your strength; you broke the heads of the sea monsters.

You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea;

14 You were the one who crushed the heads of Leviathan, and you gave its body to the desert animals to eat.

You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.

15 You were the one who made springs and rivers flow with water. You made permanent rivers dry up.

You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up the ever-flowing rivers.

16 You created the day, and also the night; you made the moon and the sun.

The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun.

17 You set the boundaries of the earth; you made summer and winter.

You set all the boundaries of the earth; You made the summer and winter.

18 So keep in mind how the enemy ridiculed you, Lord, and how irreverent people insulted your reputation.

Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name.

19 Don't let wild animals kill your turtledoves! Don't abandon your people forever!

Do not deliver the soul of Your dove to beasts; do not forget the lives of Your afflicted forever.

20 Remember your promises in the agreement, because the land is full of dark places and violence.

Consider Your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.

21 Don't let those who suffer be mistreated again. Let the poor and needy praise you for you who are.

Do not let the oppressed retreat in shame; may the poor and needy praise Your name.

22 Stand up, God, and plead your case. Don't forget how these foolish people insulted you all the time.

Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! Remember how the fool mocks You all day long.

23 Don't ignore what your enemies have said, for their loud accusations against you are getting worse and worse!

Do not disregard the clamor of Your adversaries, the uproar of Your enemies that ascends continually.