Psalms 74

1 An Instruction of Asaph. Why, O God, hast Thou cast off for ever? Thine anger smoketh against the flock of Thy pasture.

O God, why have you cast us off for ever? why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?

2 Remember Thy company. Thou didst purchase of old, Thou didst redeem the rod of Thy inheritance, This mount Zion — Thou didst dwell in it.

Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old; the rod of your inheritance, which you have redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein you have dwelt.

3 Lift up Thy steps to the perpetual desolations, Everything the enemy did wickedly in the sanctuary.

Lift up your feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy has done wickedly in the sanctuary.

4 Roared have thine adversaries, In the midst of Thy meeting-places, They have set their ensigns as ensigns.

your enemies roar in the midst of your congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.

5 He is known as one bringing in on high Against a thicket of wood — axes.

A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.

6 And now, its carvings together With axe and hatchet they break down,

But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.

7 They have sent into fire Thy sanctuary, to the earth they polluted the tabernacle of Thy name,

They have cast fire into your sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of your name to the ground.

8 They said in their hearts, 'Let us oppress them together,' They did burn all the meeting-places of God in the land.

They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

9 Our ensigns we have not seen, There is no more a prophet, Nor with us is one knowing how long.

We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knows how long.

10 Till when, O God, doth an adversary reproach? Doth an enemy despise thy name for ever?

O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme your name for ever?

11 Why dost Thou turn back Thy hand, Even Thy right hand? From the midst of Thy bosom remove [it].

Why withdraw you your hand, even your right hand? pluck it out of your bosom.

12 And God [is] my king of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 Thou hast broken by Thy strength a sea -[monster], Thou hast shivered Heads of dragons by the waters,

You did divide the sea by your strength: you brake the heads of the dragons in the waters.

14 Thou hast broken the heads of leviathan, Thou makest him food, For the people of the dry places.

You brake the heads of leviathan (sea serpent) in pieces, and gave him to be food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

15 Thou hast cleaved a fountain and a stream, Thou hast dried up perennial flowings.

You did cleave the fountain and the flood: you dried up mighty rivers.

16 Thine [is] the day, also Thine [is] the night, Thou hast prepared a light giver — the sun.

The day is yours, the night also is yours: you have prepared the light and the sun.

17 Thou hast set up all the borders of earth, Summer and winter Thou hast formed them.

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

18 Remember this — an enemy reproached Jehovah, And a foolish people have despised Thy name.

Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed your name.

19 Give not up to a company, The soul of Thy turtle-dove, The company of Thy poor ones forget not for ever.

O deliver not the soul of your turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of your poor for ever.

20 Look attentively to the covenant, For the dark places of earth, Have been full of habitations of violence.

Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

21 Let not the oppressed turn back ashamed, Let the poor and needy praise Thy name,

O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise your name.

22 Arise, O God, plead Thy plea, Remember Thy reproach from a fool all the day.

Arise, O God, plead your own cause: remember how the foolish man reproaches you daily.

23 Forget not the voice of Thine adversaries, The noise of Thy withstanders is going up continually!

Forget not the voice of your enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against you increases continually.