Psalms 74

1 A contemplation by Asaph. God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?

A maschil of Asaph. God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?

2 Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance: Mount Zion, in which you have lived.

Call to mind your people, whom you purchased in ancient times, the tribe whom you have redeemed to be your own heritage, and Mount Zion, where you live.

3 Lift up your feet to the perpetual ruins, all the evil that the enemy has done in the sanctuary.

Come look at the complete ruins, all the damage that the enemy has done in the holy place.

4 Your adversaries have roared in the middle of your assembly. They have set up their standards as signs.

Your adversaries roared in the middle of your appointed place; they set up their battle flags.

5 They behaved like men wielding axes, cutting through a thicket of trees.

They hacked away with axes as in a thick forest.

6 Now they break all its carved work down with hatchet and hammers.

They smashed and broke down all the engravings; they broke them with axes and hammers.

7 They have burned your sanctuary to the ground. They have profaned the dwelling place of your Name.

They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrated where you live, knocking it to the ground.

8 They said in their heart, “We will crush them completely.” They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.

They said in their hearts, “We will destroy them all.” They burned up all of your meeting places in the land.

9 We see no miraculous signs. There is no longer any prophet, neither is there among us anyone who knows how long.

We do not see any more signs; there is no prophet any more, and no one among us knows how long this will last.

10 How long, God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?

How long, God, will the enemy throw insults at you? Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever?

11 Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand? Take it from your chest and consume them!

Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take your right hand from your garment and destroy them.

12 Yet God is my King of old, working salvation throughout the earth.

Yet God has been my king from ancient times, bringing salvation on the earth.

13 You divided the sea by your strength. You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.

You divided the sea by your strength; you smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.

14 You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces. You gave him as food to people and desert creatures.

You crushed the heads of leviathan; you fed him to those living in the wilderness.

15 You opened up spring and stream. You dried up mighty rivers.

You broke open springs and streams; you dried up flowing rivers.

16 The day is yours, the night is also yours. You have prepared the light and the sun.

The day is yours, and the night is yours also; you set the sun and moon in place.

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

You have set all the borders of the earth; you have made summer and winter.

18 Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, LORD. Foolish people have blasphemed your name.

Call to mind how the enemy hurled insults at you, Yahweh, and that a foolish people has blasphemed your name.

19 Don’t deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts. Don’t forget the life of your poor forever.

Do not give the life of your dove to a wild animal. Do not forget forever the life of your oppressed people.

20 Honor your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth.

Remember your covenant, for the dark regions of the land are full of places of violence.

21 Don’t let the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name.

Do not let the oppressed be turned back in shame; let the poor and oppressed praise your name.

22 Arise, God! Plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.

Arise, God; defend your own honor; call to mind how fools insult you all day long.

23 Don’t forget the voice of your adversaries. The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually.

Do not forget the voice of your adversaries or the uproar of those who continually defy you.