Psalms 74

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

like men wielding axes in a thicket of trees

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

and smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile 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 withdraw Your strong right hand? Stretch it out to destroy them!

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

Yet God is my King from ancient times, working 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 dragons of the sea;

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 the creatures of the desert.

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

You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up the ever-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 also the night; You established the moon and the sun.

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

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

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

Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned 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 deliver the soul of Your dove to beasts; do not forget the lives of Your afflicted forever.

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

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

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

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

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

Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! Remember how the fool mocks 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 disregard the clamor of Your adversaries, the uproar of Your enemies that ascends continually.