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?

AN INSTRUCTION OF ASAPH. Why, O God, have You cast off forever? Your anger smokes against the flock 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 [That] You purchased of old, You redeemed the rod of Your inheritance, This Mount Zion—You dwelt in it.

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

Lift up Your steps to the continuous desolations, Everything the enemy did wickedly in the sanctuary.

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

Your adversaries have roared, In the midst of Your meeting-places, They have set their ensigns as ensigns.

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

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

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

And now they break down its engravings, Together, with axe and hatchet,

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

They have sent Your sanctuary into fire, They defiled the Dwelling Place of Your Name to the earth,

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, “Let us oppress them together,” They burned all the meeting-places of God 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.

We have not seen our ensigns, There is no longer a prophet, Nor with us is one knowing how long.

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

Until when, O God, does an adversary reproach? Does an enemy despise 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 turn back Your hand, Even Your right hand? Remove [it] from the midst of Your bosom.

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

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

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

You have divided [the] sea by Your strength, You have shattered heads of dragons by the waters,

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

You have broken the heads of leviathan, You make him food for the people of desert-dwellers.

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

You have cleaved a fountain and a stream, You have dried up perennial flowings.

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

The day [is] Yours, The night [is] also Yours, You have prepared a light-giver—the sun.

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

You have set up all the borders of earth, Summer and winter—You have formed them.

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

Remember this—an enemy reproached YHWH, And a foolish people have despised 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 up to a [wild] creature, The soul of Your turtle-dove, Do not forget the life of Your poor ones forever.

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

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

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

Do not let the oppressed turn back ashamed, Let the poor and needy praise Your Name,

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

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

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, The noise of Your withstanders is going up continually!