Psalm 74

A maskila of Asaph.

1 O God, why have you rejectedq us forever?r

Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?s

2 Remember the nation you purchasedt long ago,u

the people of your inheritance,v whom you redeemedw—

Mount Zion,x where you dwelt.y

3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,z

all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

4 Your foes roareda in the place where you met with us;

they set up their standardsb as signs.

5 They behaved like men wielding axes

to cut through a thicket of trees.c

6 They smashed all the carvedd paneling

with their axes and hatchets.

7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground;

they defilede the dwelling placef of your Name.g

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

They burnedi every place where God was worshiped in the land.

9 We are given no signs from God;j

no prophetsk are left,

and none of us knows how long this will be.

10 How longl will the enemy mockm you, God?

Will the foe revilen your name forever?

11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?o

Take it from the folds of your garmentp and destroy them!

12 But God is my Kingq from long ago;

he brings salvationr on the earth.

13 It was you who split open the seas by your power;

you broke the heads of the monstert in the waters.

14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathanu

and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.v

15 It was you who opened up springsw and streams;

you dried upx the ever-flowing rivers.

16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;

you established the sun and moon.y

17 It was you who set all the boundariesz of the earth;

you made both summer and winter.a

18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,

how foolish peopleb have reviled your name.

19 Do not hand over the life of your dovec to wild beasts;

do not forget the lives of your afflictedd people forever.

20 Have regard for your covenant,e

because haunts of violence fill the dark placesf of the land.

21 Do not let the oppressedg retreat in disgrace;

may the poor and needyh praise your name.

22 Rise up,i O God, and defend your cause;

remember how foolsj mock you all day long.

23 Do not ignore the clamork of your adversaries,l

the uproarm of your enemies,n which rises continually.

Psalm 75a

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph. A song.

1 We praise you, God,

we praise you, for your Name is near;o

people tell of your wonderful deeds.p

2 You say, “I choose the appointed time;q

it is I who judge with equity.r

3 When the earth and all its people quake,s

it is I who hold its pillarst firm.b

4 To the arrogantu I say, ‘Boast no more,’v

and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.c w

5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;

do not speak so defiantly.x’ ”

6 No one from the east or the west

or from the desert can exalt themselves.

7 It is God who judges:y

He brings one down, he exalts another.z

8 In the hand of the Lord is a cup

full of foaming wine mixeda with spices;

he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth

drink it down to its very dregs.b

9 As for me, I will declarec this forever;

I will singd praise to the God of Jacob,e

10 who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,

but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”f

Psalm 76a

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.

1 God is renowned in Judah;

in Israel his name is great.g

2 His tent is in Salem,h

his dwelling place in Zion.i

3 There he broke the flashing arrows,j

the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.b k

4 You are radiant with light,l

more majestic than mountains rich with game.

5 The valiantm lie plundered,

they sleep their last sleep;n

not one of the warriors

can lift his hands.

6 At your rebuke,o God of Jacob,

both horse and chariotp lie still.

7 It is you alone who are to be feared.q

Who can standr before you when you are angry?s

8 From heaven you pronounced judgment,

and the land fearedt and was quiet—

9 when you, God, rose up to judge,u

to save all the afflictedv of the land.

10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,w

and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.c

11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them;x

let all the neighboring lands

bring giftsy to the One to be feared.

12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;

he is feared by the kings of the earth.