Psalm 74

Psalm 74

A maskil of Asaph.

¹God, why have you turned your back on us for so long?

Why does your anger burn against us? We are your very own sheep.

²Remember that you chose us to be your own people a long time ago.

Remember that you set us free from slavery to be your very own tribe.

Remember Mount Zion, where you lived.

³Walk through this place that has been torn down beyond repair.

See how completely your enemies have destroyed the temple!

⁴In the place where you used to meet with us,

your enemies have shouted, “We’ve won the battle!”

They have set up their flags to show they have beaten us.

⁵They acted like people cutting down a forest with axes.

⁶They smashed all of the beautiful wooden walls

with their axes and hatchets.

⁷They burned your temple to the ground.

They polluted the place where your Name is.

⁸They had said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!”

They burned every place where you were worshiped in the land.

⁹You don’t give us miraculous signs anymore.

There aren’t any prophets left.

None of us knows how long that will last.

¹⁰God, how long will your enemies make fun of you?

Will they attack you with their words forever?

¹¹Why don’t you help us? Why do you hold back your powerful right hand?

Use your strong arms to destroy your enemies!

¹²God, you have been my king for a long time.

The whole earth has seen you save us over and over again.

¹³You parted the Red Sea by your power.

You broke the heads of that sea monster in Egypt.

¹⁴You crushed the heads of the sea monster Leviathan.

You fed it to the creatures of the desert.

¹⁵You opened up streams and springs.

You dried up rivers that flow all year long.

¹⁶You rule over the day and the night.

You created the sun and the moon.

¹⁷You decided where the borders of the earth would be.

You made both summer and winter.

¹⁸Lord, remember how your enemies have made fun of you.

Remember how foolish people have attacked you with their words.

¹⁹Don’t hand Israel, your dove, over to those wild animals.

Don’t forget your suffering people forever.

²⁰Honor the covenant you made with us.

Horrible things are happening in every dark corner of the land.

²¹Don’t let your suffering people be put to shame.

May those who are poor and needy praise you.

²²God, rise up. Stand up for your cause.

Remember how foolish people make fun of you all day long.

²³Pay close attention to the shouts of your enemies.

The trouble they cause never stops.