Psalms 74

1 A Psalme to give instruction, committed to Asaph. O God, why hast thou put vs away for euer? why is thy wrath kindled against the sheepe 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 Thinke vpon thy Congregation, which thou hast possessed of olde, and on the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed, and on this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

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 vp thy strokes, that thou mayest for euer destroy euery enemie that doeth euill to the Sanctuarie.

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

4 Thine aduersaries roare in the middes of thy Congregation, and set vp their banners for signes.

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

5 He that lifted the axes vpon the thicke trees, was renowmed, as one, that brought a thing to perfection:

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

6 But nowe they breake downe the carued worke thereof with axes and hammers.

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

7 They haue cast thy Sanctuarie into the fire, and rased it to the grounde, and haue defiled the dwelling place 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 saide in their hearts, Let vs destroy them altogether: they haue burnt all the Synagogues 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 We see not our signes: there is not one Prophet more, nor any with vs that knoweth howe long.

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

10 O God, howe long shall the aduersarie reproche thee? shall the enemie blaspheme thy Name for euer?

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

11 Why withdrawest thou thine hand, euen thy right hand? drawe it out of thy bosome, and consume them.

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

12 Euen God is my King of olde, working saluation in the middes of the earth.

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

13 Thou didest deuide the sea by thy power: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.

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

14 Thou brakest the head of Liuiathan in pieces, and gauest him to be meate for the people in wildernesse.

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

15 Thou brakest vp the fountaine and riuer: thou dryedst vp mightie riuers.

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

16 The day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sunne.

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

17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

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

18 Remember this, that the enemie hath reproched the Lord, and the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.

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

19 Giue not the soule of thy turtle doue vnto the beast, and forget not the Congregation of thy poore for euer.

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

20 Consider thy couenant: for the darke places of the earth are full of the habitations of the cruell.

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

21 Oh let not the oppressed returne ashamed, but let the poore and needie prayse thy Name.

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

22 Arise, O God: mainteine thine owne cause: remember thy dayly reproche by the foolish man.

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

23 Forget not the voyce of thine enemies: for the tumult of them, that rise against thee, ascendeth continually.

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