Psalm 74

Psalm 74

A maskil of Asaph.

O God, why have you rejected^a us forever?^b

Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?^c

Remember the people you purchased^d long ago,^e

the tribe of your inheritance,^f whom you redeemed^g—

Mount Zion,^h where you dwelt.ⁱ

Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,^j

all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

Your foes roared^k in the place where you met with us;

they set up their standards^l as signs.

They behaved like men wielding axes

to cut through a thicket of trees.^m

They smashed all the carvedⁿ paneling

with their axes and hatchets.

They burned your sanctuary to the ground;

they defiled^o the dwelling place^p of your Name.^q

They said in their hearts, “We will crush^r them completely!”

They burned^s every place where God was worshiped in the land.

We are given no signs from God;^t

no prophets^u are left,

and none of us knows how long this will be.

How long^v will the enemy mock^w you, God?

Will the foe revile^x your name forever?

Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?^y

Take it from the folds of your garment^z and destroy them!

But God is my King^a from long ago;

he brings salvation^b on the earth.

It was you who split open the sea^c by your power;

you broke the heads of the monster^d in the waters.

It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan^e

and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.^f

It was you who opened up springs^g and streams;

you dried up^h the ever-flowing rivers.

The day is yours, and yours also the night;

you established the sun and moon.ⁱ

It was you who set all the boundaries^j of the earth;

you made both summer and winter.^k

Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,

how foolish people^l have reviled your name.

Do not hand over the life of your dove^m to wild beasts;

do not forget the lives of your afflictedⁿ people forever.

Have regard for your covenant,^o

because haunts of violence fill the dark places^p of the land.

Do not let the oppressed^q retreat in disgrace;

may the poor and needy^r praise your name.

Rise up,^s O God, and defend your cause;

remember how fools^t mock you all day long.

Do not ignore the clamor^u of your adversaries,^v

the uproar^w of your enemies,^x which rises continually.