Psalms 74
74
(A special psalm by Asaph.)
A Prayer for the Nation in Times of Trouble
1Our God, why have you
completely rejected us?
Why are you so angry
with the ones you care for?
2Remember the people
you rescued long ago,
the tribe you chose
for your very own.
Think of Mount Zion,
your home;
3walk over to the temple
left in ruins forever
by those who hate us.
4Your enemies roared like lions
in your holy temple,
and they have placed
their banners there.
5It looks like a forest
chopped to pieces.#74.5 pieces: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 5.
6They used axes and hatchets
to smash the carvings.
7They burned down your temple
and badly disgraced it.
8They said to themselves,
“We'll crush them!”
Then they burned every one
of your meeting places
all over the country.
9There are no more miracles
and no more prophets.
Who knows how long
it will be like this?
10Our God, how much longer
will our enemies sneer?
Won't they ever stop
insulting you?
11Why don't you punish them?
Why are you holding back?
12Our God and King,
you have ruled
since ancient times;
you have won victories
everywhere on this earth.
13 #
Ex 14.21. By your power you made a path
through the sea,
and you smashed the heads
of sea monsters.
14 #
Job 41.1; Ps 104.26; Is 27.1. You crushed the heads
of the monster Leviathan,#74.14 Leviathan: God's victory over this monster sometimes stands for his power over all creation and sometimes for his defeat of Egypt.
then fed him to wild creatures
in the desert.
15You opened the ground
for streams and springs
and dried up mighty rivers.
16You rule the day and the night,
and you put the moon
and the sun in place.
17You made summer and winter
and gave them to the earth.#74.17 gave … earth: Or “made boundaries for the earth.”
18Remember your enemies, Lord!
They foolishly sneer
and won't respect you.
19You treat us like pet doves,
but they mistreat us.
Don't keep forgetting us
and letting us be fed
to those wild animals.
20Remember the agreement
you made with us.
Violent enemies are hiding
in every dark corner
of the earth.
21Don't disappoint those in need
or make them turn from you,
but help the poor and homeless
to shout your praises.
22Do something, God!
Defend yourself.
Remember how those fools
sneer at you all day long.
23Don't forget the loud shouts
of your enemies.
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Psalms 74: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Psalms 74
74
Psalm 74
A maskil#Title: Probably a literary or musical term of Asaph.
1O God, why have you rejected us forever?
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2Remember the nation you purchased long ago,
the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed—
Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
3Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,
all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4Your foes roared in the place where you met with us;
they set up their standards as signs.
5They behaved like men wielding axes
to cut through a thicket of trees.
6They smashed all the carved paneling
with their axes and hatchets.
7They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
8They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!”
They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.
9We are given no signs from God;
no prophets are left,
and none of us knows how long this will be.
10How long will the enemy mock you, God?
Will the foe revile your name forever?
11Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
12But God is my King from long ago;
he brings salvation on the earth.
13It was you who split open the sea by your power;
you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
14It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan
and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
15It was you who opened up springs and streams;
you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
16The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.
17It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made both summer and winter.
18Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,
how foolish people have reviled your name.
19Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts;
do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.
20Have regard for your covenant,
because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
21Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace;
may the poor and needy praise your name.
22Rise up, O God, and defend your cause;
remember how fools mock you all day long.
23Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries,
the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
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