Psalms 74
1 An Instruction of Asaph. Why, O God, hast Thou cast off for ever? Thine anger smoketh against the flock of Thy 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 Remember Thy company. Thou didst purchase of old, Thou didst redeem the rod of Thy inheritance, This mount Zion — Thou didst dwell in it.
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 Lift up Thy steps to the perpetual desolations, Everything the enemy did wickedly in the sanctuary.
Come and walk through the complete devastation. The enemy has totally destroyed your Temple.
4 Roared have thine adversaries, In the midst of Thy meeting-places, They have set their ensigns as ensigns.
The enemy shouted in triumph right where you met with us. There they set up their war banners as signs of their victory.
5 He is known as one bringing in on high Against a thicket of wood — axes.
They acted like men chopping down a forest with axes.
6 And now, its carvings together With axe and hatchet they break down,
With axes and hammers they smashed in the carved wooden panels.
7 They have sent into fire Thy sanctuary, to the earth they polluted the tabernacle of Thy name,
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, 'Let us oppress them together,' They did burn all the meeting-places of God 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 Our ensigns we have not seen, There is no more a prophet, Nor with us is one knowing how long.
We no longer see any signs. There are no prophets left. And no one among us knows how long this will last.
10 Till when, O God, doth an adversary reproach? Doth an enemy despise thy name for ever?
How long will the enemy ridicule you, God? Will they insult your character forever?
11 Why dost Thou turn back Thy hand, Even Thy right hand? From the midst of Thy bosom remove [it].
Why do you hold back from doing something? Take action and destroy them!
12 And God [is] my king of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
But you, God, are our king from long ago. You have saved us many times in the land.
13 Thou hast broken by Thy strength a sea -[monster], Thou hast shivered Heads of dragons by the waters,
You were the one who split apart the sea by your strength; you broke the heads of the sea monsters.
14 Thou hast broken the heads of leviathan, Thou makest him food, For the people of the dry places.
You were the one who crushed the heads of Leviathan, and you gave its body to the desert animals to eat.
15 Thou hast cleaved a fountain and a stream, Thou hast dried up perennial flowings.
You were the one who made springs and rivers flow with water. You made permanent rivers dry up.
16 Thine [is] the day, also Thine [is] the night, Thou hast prepared a light giver — the sun.
You created the day, and also the night; you made the moon and the sun.
17 Thou hast set up all the borders of earth, Summer and winter Thou hast formed them.
You set the boundaries of the earth; you made summer and winter.
18 Remember this — an enemy reproached Jehovah, And a foolish people have despised Thy name.
So keep in mind how the enemy ridiculed you, Lord, and how irreverent people insulted your reputation.
19 Give not up to a company, The soul of Thy turtle-dove, The company of Thy poor ones forget not for ever.
Don't let wild animals kill your turtledoves! Don't abandon your people forever!
20 Look attentively to the covenant, For the dark places of earth, Have been full of habitations of violence.
Remember your promises in the agreement, because the land is full of dark places and violence.
21 Let not the oppressed turn back ashamed, Let the poor and needy praise Thy name,
Don't let those who suffer be mistreated again. Let the poor and needy praise you for you who are.
22 Arise, O God, plead Thy plea, Remember Thy reproach from a fool all the day.
Stand up, God, and plead your case. Don't forget how these foolish people insulted you all the time.
23 Forget not the voice of Thine adversaries, The noise of Thy withstanders is going up continually!
Don't ignore what your enemies have said, for their loud accusations against you are getting worse and worse!
