Psalm 74

A Plea for Relief from Oppressors

A 1Contemplation of Asaph.

1 O God, why have You cast us off forever?

Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old,

The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—

This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.

3 Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.

The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.

4 aYour enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place;

bThey set up their banners for signs.

5 They seem like men who lift up

Axes among the thick trees.

6 And now they break down its carved work, all at once,

With axes and hammers.

7 They have set fire to Your sanctuary;

They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.

8 cThey said in their hearts,

“Let us 2destroy them altogether.”

They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.

9 We do not see our signs;

dThere is no longer any prophet;

Nor is there any among us who knows how long.

10 O God, how long will the adversary 3reproach?

Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?

11 eWhy do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?

Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.

12 For fGod is my King from of old,

Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 gYou divided the sea by Your strength;

You broke the heads of the 4sea serpents in the waters.

14 You broke the heads of 5Leviathan in pieces,

And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

15 hYou broke open the fountain and the flood;

iYou dried up mighty rivers.

16 The day is Yours, the night also is jYours;

kYou have prepared the light and the sun.

17 You have lset all the borders of the earth;

mYou have made summer and winter.

18 Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord,

And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name.

19 Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast!

Do not forget the life of Your poor forever.

20 nHave respect to the covenant;

For the 6dark places of the earth are full of the 7haunts of 8cruelty.

21 Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed!

Let the poor and needy praise Your name.

22 Arise, O God, plead Your own cause;

Remember how the foolish man 9reproaches You daily.

23 Do not forget the voice of Your enemies;

The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.