74:1 A maskil of Asaph. Why have you rejected us forever, O God? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
74:2 Remember the people you purchased of old, the tribe of your inheritance, whom you redeemed–Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
74:3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
74:4 Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs.
74:5 They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.
74:6 They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets.
74:7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
74:8 They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!” They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.
74:9 We are given no miraculous signs; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be.
74:10 How long will the enemy mock you, O God? Will the foe revile your name forever?
74:11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
74:12 But you, O God, are my king from of old; you bring salvation upon the earth.
74:13 It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
74:14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert.
74:15 It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever flowing rivers.
74:16 The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
74:17 It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
74:18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O LORD, how foolish people have reviled your name.
74:19 Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.
74:20 Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
74:21 Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.
74:22 Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long.
74:23 Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
74:1 Why, O God, have You cast us off forever? / Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
74:2 Remember Your assembly, which You have purchased of old, / Which You have redeemed as the tribe of Your inheritance, / And Mount Zion, where You dwell.
74:3 Lift up Your steps unto the perpetual ruins; / The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.
74:4 Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your assembly place; / They have set up their symbols as signs.
74:5 It looked like when men bring up axes / On the thicket of the trees.
74:6 And now they have struck down with hatchet and hammer / Its carved work altogether.
74:7 They have set fire to Your sanctuary; / They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.
74:8 They said in their heart, Let us oppress them completely. / They have burned down all God s assembly places in the land.
74:9 We do not see our signs; there is no longer a prophet, / Nor is there anyone among us who knows how long.
74:10 How long, O God, will the adversary reproach? / Will the enemy despise Your name forever?
74:11 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? / Bring it forth from the midst of Your bosom; destroy them.
74:12 But God is my King of old, / Accomplishing salvation in the midst of the earth.
74:13 You divided the sea by Your strength; / You broke the heads of the sea serpents on the waters.
74:14 You crushed the heads of the leviathan; / You gave him as food to the creatures of the desert.
74:15 You broke open the fountain and the torrent; / You dried up the ever-flowing streams.
74:16 The day is Yours; the night also is Yours; / You prepared the moon and the sun.
74:17 You established all the borders of the earth: / You formed the summer and the winter.
74:18 Remember this: The enemy has reproached Jehovah, / And a foolish people has despised Your name.
74:19 Do not give the soul of Your turtledove to the wild beast; / Do not forget the life of Your poor forever.
74:20 Regard the covenant, / For the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of violence.
74:21 Do not let him who is oppressed return ashamed. / May the poor and needy praise Your name.
74:22 Arise, O God; contend for Your own cause; / Remember how the foolish man reproaches You all day long.
74:23 Do not forget the voice of Your adversaries; / The roar of those who rise up against You goes up continually.