Psalms 74
1 Maschil of Asaph. Why, O God, hast Thou cast us off for ever? Why doth Thine anger smoke against the flock of Thy pasture?
A maschil of Asaph. God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember Thy congregation, which Thou hast gotten of old, which Thou hast redeemed to be the tribe of Thine inheritance; and mount Zion, wherein Thou hast dwelt.
Call to mind your people, whom you purchased in ancient times, the tribe whom you have redeemed to be your own heritage, and Mount Zion, where you live.
3 Lift up Thy steps because of the perpetual ruins, even all the evil that the enemy hath done in the sanctuary.
Come look at the complete ruins, all the damage that the enemy has done in the holy place.
4 Thine adversaries have roared in the midst of Thy meeting-place; they have set up their own signs for signs.
Your adversaries roared in the middle of your appointed place; they set up their battle flags.
5 It seemed as when men wield upwards axes in a thicket of trees.
They hacked away with axes as in a thick forest.
6 And now all the carved work thereof together they strike down with hatchet and hammers.
They smashed and broke down all the engravings; they broke them with axes and hammers.
7 They have set Thy sanctuary on fire; they have profaned the dwelling-place of Thy name even to the ground.
They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrated where you live, knocking it to the ground.
8 They said in their heart: 'Let us make havoc of them altogether'; they have burned up all the meeting-places of God in the land.
They said in their hearts, “We will destroy them all.” They burned up all of your meeting places in the land.
9 We see not our signs; there is no more any prophet; neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
We do not see any more signs; there is no prophet any more, and no one among us knows how long this will last.
10 How long, O God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme Thy name for ever?
How long, God, will the enemy throw insults at you? Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
11 Why withdrawest Thou Thy hand, even Thy right hand? Draw it out of Thy bosom and consume them.
Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take your right hand from your garment and destroy them.
12 Yet God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
Yet God has been my king from ancient times, bringing salvation on the earth.
13 Thou didst break the sea in pieces by Thy strength; Thou didst shatter the heads of the sea-monsters in the waters.
You divided the sea by your strength; you smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
14 Thou didst crush the heads of leviathan, Thou gavest him to be food to the folk inhabiting the wilderness.
You crushed the heads of leviathan; you fed him to those living in the wilderness.
15 Thou didst cleave fountain and brook; Thou driedst up ever-flowing rivers.
You broke open springs and streams; you dried up flowing rivers.
16 Thine is the day, Thine also the night; Thou hast established luminary and sun.
The day is yours, and the night is yours also; you set the sun and moon in place.
17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; Thou hast made summer and winter.
You have set all the borders of the earth; you have made summer and winter.
18 Remember this, how the enemy hath reproached the LORD, and how a base people have blasphemed Thy name.
Call to mind how the enemy hurled insults at you, Yahweh, and that a foolish people has blasphemed your name.
19 O deliver not the soul of Thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast; forget not the life of Thy poor for ever.
Do not give the life of your dove to a wild animal. Do not forget forever the life of your oppressed people.
20 Look upon the covenant; for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
Remember your covenant, for the dark regions of the land are full of places of violence.
21 O let not the oppressed turn back in confusion; let the poor and needy praise Thy name.
Do not let the oppressed be turned back in shame; let the poor and oppressed praise your name.
22 Arise, O God, plead Thine own cause; remember Thy reproach all the day at the hand of the base man.
Arise, God; defend your own honor; call to mind how fools insult you all day long.
23 Forget not the voice of Thine adversaries, the tumult of those that rise up against Thee which ascendeth continually.
Do not forget the voice of your adversaries or the uproar of those who continually defy you.
