Psalms 74
1 A maschil of Asaph. God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?
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 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.
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 Come look at the complete ruins, all the damage that the enemy has done in the holy place.
Come and walk through the complete devastation. The enemy has totally destroyed your Temple.
4 Your adversaries roared in the middle of your appointed place; they set up their battle flags.
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 hacked away with axes as in a thick forest.
They acted like men chopping down a forest with axes.
6 They smashed and broke down all the engravings; they broke them with axes and hammers.
With axes and hammers they smashed in the carved wooden panels.
7 They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrated where you live, knocking it to the ground.
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 in their hearts, “We will destroy them all.” They burned up all of your meeting places in the land.
They said to themselves, “Let's destroy it all!” So they burned down every place where God was worshiped throughout the land.
9 We do not see any more signs; there is no prophet any more, and no one among us knows how long this will last.
We no longer see any signs. There are no prophets left. And no one among us knows how long this will last.
10 How long, God, will the enemy throw insults at you? Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
How long will the enemy ridicule you, God? Will they insult your character forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take your right hand from your garment and destroy them.
Why do you hold back from doing something? Take action and destroy them!
12 Yet God has been my king from ancient times, bringing salvation on the earth.
But you, God, are our king from long ago. You have saved us many times in the land.
13 You divided the sea by your strength; you smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
You were the one who split apart the sea by your strength; you broke the heads of the sea monsters.
14 You crushed the heads of leviathan; you fed him to those living in the wilderness.
You were the one who crushed the heads of Leviathan, and you gave its body to the desert animals to eat.
15 You broke open springs and streams; you dried up flowing rivers.
You were the one who made springs and rivers flow with water. You made permanent rivers dry up.
16 The day is yours, and the night is yours also; you set the sun and moon in place.
You created the day, and also the night; you made the moon and the sun.
17 You have set all the borders of the earth; you have made summer and winter.
You set the boundaries of the earth; you made summer and winter.
18 Call to mind how the enemy hurled insults at you, Yahweh, and that a foolish people has blasphemed your name.
So keep in mind how the enemy ridiculed you, Lord, and how irreverent people insulted your reputation.
19 Do not give the life of your dove to a wild animal. Do not forget forever the life of your oppressed people.
Don't let wild animals kill your turtledoves! Don't abandon your people forever!
20 Remember your covenant, for the dark regions of the land are full of places of violence.
Remember your promises in the agreement, because the land is full of dark places and violence.
21 Do not let the oppressed be turned back in shame; let the poor and oppressed praise your name.
Don't let those who suffer be mistreated again. Let the poor and needy praise you for you who are.
22 Arise, God; defend your own honor; call to mind how fools insult you all day long.
Stand up, God, and plead your case. Don't forget how these foolish people insulted you all the time.
23 Do not forget the voice of your adversaries or the uproar of those who continually defy you.
Don't ignore what your enemies have said, for their loud accusations against you are getting worse and worse!
