Psalms 74

A psalm#74:TITLE Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term. of Asaph.

1O God, why have you rejected us so long?

Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture?

2Remember that we are the people you chose long ago,

the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession!

And remember Jerusalem,#74:2 Hebrew Mount Zion. your home here on earth.

3Walk through the awful ruins of the city;

see how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary.

4There your enemies shouted their victorious battle cries;

there they set up their battle standards.

5They swung their axes

like woodcutters in a forest.

6With axes and picks,

they smashed the carved paneling.

7They burned your sanctuary to the ground.

They defiled the place that bears your name.

8Then they thought, “Let’s destroy everything!”

So they burned down all the places where God was worshiped.

9We no longer see your miraculous signs.

All the prophets are gone,

and no one can tell us when it will end.

10How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you?

Will you let them dishonor your name forever?

11Why do you hold back your strong right hand?

Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.

12You, O God, are my king from ages past,

bringing salvation to the earth.

13You split the sea by your strength

and smashed the heads of the sea monsters.

14You crushed the heads of Leviathan#74:14 The identification of Leviathan is disputed, ranging from an earthly creature to a mythical sea monster in ancient literature.

and let the desert animals eat him.

15You caused the springs and streams to gush forth,

and you dried up rivers that never run dry.

16Both day and night belong to you;

you made the starlight#74:16 Or moon; Hebrew reads light. and the sun.

17You set the boundaries of the earth,

and you made both summer and winter.

18See how these enemies insult you, Lord.

A foolish nation has dishonored your name.

19Don’t let these wild beasts destroy your turtledoves.

Don’t forget your suffering people forever.

20Remember your covenant promises,

for the land is full of darkness and violence!

21Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again.

Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.

22Arise, O God, and defend your cause.

Remember how these fools insult you all day long.

23Don’t overlook what your enemies have said

or their growing uproar.

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Psalms 74

A Plea for Relief from Oppressors

A Contemplation of Asaph.

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

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

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

The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—

This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.

3Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.

The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.

4#Lam. 2:7Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place;

#Num. 2:2They set up their banners for signs.

5They seem like men who lift up

Axes among the thick trees.

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

With axes and hammers.

7They have set fire to Your sanctuary;

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

8#Ps. 83:4They said in their hearts,

“Let us destroy them altogether.”

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

9We do not see our signs;

#1 Sam. 3:1; Lam. 2:9; Ezek. 7:26; Amos 8:11There is no longer any prophet;

Nor is there any among us who knows how long.

10O God, how long will the adversary reproach?

Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?

11#Lam. 2:3Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?

Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.

12For #Ps. 44:4God is my King from of old,

Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13#Ex. 14:21You divided the sea by Your strength;

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

14You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces,

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

15#Ex. 17:5, 6; Num. 20:11; Ps. 105:41; Is. 48:21You broke open the fountain and the flood;

#Ex. 14:21, 22; Josh. 2:10; 3:13You dried up mighty rivers.

16The day is Yours, the night also is #Job 38:12Yours;

#Gen. 1:14–18You have prepared the light and the sun.

17You have #Deut. 32:8; Acts 17:26set all the borders of the earth;

#Gen. 8:22You have made summer and winter.

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

And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name.

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

Do not forget the life of Your poor forever.

20#Gen. 17:7, 8; Lev. 26:44, 45Have respect to the covenant;

For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.

21Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed!

Let the poor and needy praise Your name.

22Arise, O God, plead Your own cause;

Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.

23Do not forget the voice of Your enemies;

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

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