Psalms 74
1 God, why have you abandoned/rejected us? Will you keep rejecting us forever [RHQ]? Why are you angry with us, since we are like sheep in your pasture [and you are like our shepherd]? [MET, RHQ]
A psalm (maskil) of Asaph. God, why have you rejected us? Is it forever? Why does your anger burn so hot against the sheep of your own field?
2 Do not forget your people whom you chose long ago, the people whom you freed [from being slaves in Egypt] and caused to become your tribe. Do not forget Jerusalem, which was (your home/where you dwelt) [on this earth].
Remember the people you made your own long ago, the tribe you redeemed and made your own. Remember too Mount Zion, the place where you live.
3 Walk along [and see] where everything has been totally ruined; our enemies have destroyed everything in the sacred temple.
Come and walk through the complete devastation. The enemy has totally destroyed your Temple.
4 Your enemies shouted triumphantly in this sacred place; they erected their banners [to show they had defeated us].
The enemy shouted in triumph right where you met with us. There they set up their war banners as signs of their victory.
5 They cut down all the [engraved objects in the temple] like woodsmen cut down trees.
They acted like men chopping down a forest with axes.
6 Then they smashed all the carved wood with their axes and hammers.
With axes and hammers they smashed in the carved wooden panels.
7 [Then] they burned your temple to the ground; they caused that place where you were worshiped to be unfit for people to worship in.
Then they set fire to your Temple, burning it to the ground. They defiled the place where you live, the place that bears your name.
8 They said to themselves, “We will destroy the Israelis completely,” and they [also] burned down all the other places where we gathered to worship God.
They said to themselves, “Let's destroy it all!” So they burned down every place where God was worshiped throughout the land.
9 All our sacred symbols (OR, miracles) are gone; there are no prophets now/any more, and no one knows how long [this situation will continue].
We no longer see any signs. There are no prophets left. And no one among us knows how long this will last.
10 God, how long will our enemies make fun of you [RHQ]? Will they insult you [MTY] forever [RHQ]?
How long will the enemy ridicule you, God? Will they insult your character forever?
11 Why do you refuse to help [MTY, RHQ] us? Why do you keep your hand inside your cloak [instead of using it to destroy our enemies] [RHQ]?
Why do you hold back from doing something? Take action and destroy them!
12 God, you have been our king [all the time] since we came out of Egypt [HYP], and you have enabled us to defeat [our enemies] in the land [of Israel].
But you, God, are our king from long ago. You have saved us many times in the land.
13 By your power you caused the [Red] Sea to divide; [it was as though] you smashed the heads of the [rulers of Egypt who were like] huge sea dragons [MET].
You were the one who split apart the sea by your strength; you broke the heads of the sea monsters.
14 [It was as though] you crushed the head of the king of Egypt [MET] and gave his body to the animals in the desert to eat.
You were the one who crushed the heads of Leviathan, and you gave its body to the desert animals to eat.
15 You caused springs and streams to flow, and you [also] dried up rivers that had never dried up previously.
You were the one who made springs and rivers flow with water. You made permanent rivers dry up.
16 You created the days and the nights, and you put the sun and the moon in their places.
You created the day, and also the night; you made the moon and the sun.
17 You determined where the oceans end and the land begins, and you created the summer/hot season and the winter/cold season.
You set the boundaries of the earth; you made summer and winter.
18 Yahweh, do not forget that your enemies laugh at you, and that it is foolish people who despise you [MTY].
So keep in mind how the enemy ridiculed you, Lord, and how irreverent people insulted your reputation.
19 Do not let your helpless people [MET] fall into the hands of their cruel enemies; do not forget your suffering/persecuted people.
Don't let wild animals kill your turtledoves! Don't abandon your people forever!
20 Do not forget the agreement that you made with us; remember that there are violent people in every dark place on the earth.
Remember your promises in the agreement, because the land is full of dark places and violence.
21 Do not allow your oppressed people to be disgraced; help those poor and needy people in order that they will [again] praise you [MTY].
Don't let those who suffer be mistreated again. Let the poor and needy praise you for you who are.
22 God, arise and defend yourself [by defending your people]! Do not forget that foolish people laugh at you (all day long/continually)!
Stand up, God, and plead your case. Don't forget how these foolish people insulted you all the time.
23 Do not forget that your enemies shout angrily [at you]; the uproar that they make [while they oppose you] never stops.
Don't ignore what your enemies have said, for their loud accusations against you are getting worse and worse!
