Psalms 74
Psalm 741
A well-written song2 by Asaph.
74:1 Why, O God, have you permanently rejected us?3
Why does your anger burn4 against the sheep of your pasture?
74:2 Remember your people5 whom you acquired in ancient times,
whom you rescued6 so they could be your very own nation,7
as well as Mount Zion, where you dwell!
74:3 Hurry and look8 at the permanent ruins,
and all the damage the enemy has done to the temple!9
74:4 Your enemies roar10 in the middle of your sanctuary;11
they set up their battle flags.12
74:5 They invade like lumberjacks
swinging their axes in a thick forest.13
74:6 And now14 they are tearing down15 all its engravings16
74:7 They set your sanctuary on fire;
they desecrate your dwelling place by knocking it to the ground.19
74:8 They say to themselves,20
“We will oppress all of them.”21
They burn down all the places where people worship God in the land.22
74:9 We do not see any signs of God’s presence;23
there are no longer any prophets24
and we have no one to tell us how long this will last.25
74:10 How long, O God, will the adversary hurl insults?
Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
74:11 Why do you remain inactive?
Intervene and destroy him!26
74:12 But God has been my27 king from ancient times,
performing acts of deliverance on the earth.28
74:13 You destroyed29 the sea by your strength;
you shattered the heads of the sea monster30 in the water.
74:14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan;31
you fed32 him to the people who live along the coast.33
74:15 You broke open the spring and the stream;34
you dried up perpetually flowing rivers.35
74:16 You established the cycle of day and night;36
you put the moon37 and sun in place.38
74:17 You set up all the boundaries39 of the earth;
you created the cycle of summer and winter.40
74:18 Remember how41 the enemy hurls insults, O Lord,42
and how a foolish nation blasphemes your name!
74:19 Do not hand the life of your dove43 over to a wild animal!
Do not continue to disregard44 the lives of your oppressed people!
74:20 Remember your covenant promises,45
for the dark regions of the earth are full of places where violence rules.46
74:21 Do not let the afflicted be turned back in shame!
Let the oppressed and poor praise your name!47
74:22 Rise up, O God! Defend your honor!48
Remember how fools insult you all day long!49
74:23 Do not disregard50 what your enemies say,51
or the unceasing shouts of those who defy you.52