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 maschil of Asaph. God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?
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].
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 Walk along [and see] where everything has been totally ruined; our enemies have destroyed everything in the sacred temple.
Come look at the complete ruins, all the damage that the enemy has done in the holy place.
4 Your enemies shouted triumphantly in this sacred place; they erected their banners [to show they had defeated us].
Your adversaries roared in the middle of your appointed place; they set up their battle flags.
5 They cut down all the [engraved objects in the temple] like woodsmen cut down trees.
They hacked away with axes as in a thick forest.
6 Then they smashed all the carved wood with their axes and hammers.
They smashed and broke down all the engravings; they broke them with axes and hammers.
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.
They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrated where you live, knocking it to the ground.
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 in their hearts, “We will destroy them all.” They burned up all of your meeting places in 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 do not see any more signs; there is no prophet any more, 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, God, will the enemy throw insults at you? Will the enemy blaspheme your name 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 your hand, your right hand? Take your right hand from your garment 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].
Yet God has been my king from ancient times, bringing salvation on the earth.
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 divided the sea by your strength; you smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
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 crushed the heads of leviathan; you fed him to those living in the wilderness.
15 You caused springs and streams to flow, and you [also] dried up rivers that had never dried up previously.
You broke open springs and streams; you dried up flowing rivers.
16 You created the days and the nights, and you put the sun and the moon in their places.
The day is yours, and the night is yours also; you set the sun and moon in place.
17 You determined where the oceans end and the land begins, and you created the summer/hot season and the winter/cold season.
You have set all the borders of the earth; you have 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].
Call to mind how the enemy hurled insults at you, Yahweh, and that a foolish people has blasphemed your name.
19 Do not let your helpless people [MET] fall into the hands of their cruel enemies; do not forget your suffering/persecuted people.
Do not give the life of your dove to a wild animal. Do not forget forever the life of your oppressed people.
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 covenant, for the dark regions of the land are full of places of 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].
Do not let the oppressed be turned back in shame; let the poor and oppressed praise your name.
22 God, arise and defend yourself [by defending your people]! Do not forget that foolish people laugh at you (all day long/continually)!
Arise, God; defend your own honor; call to mind how fools insult you all day long.
23 Do not forget that your enemies shout angrily [at you]; the uproar that they make [while they oppose you] never stops.
Do not forget the voice of your adversaries or the uproar of those who continually defy you.
