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 maschil of Asaph. God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?
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.
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 to the perpetual desolations, Everything the enemy did wickedly in the sanctuary.
Come look at the complete ruins, all the damage that the enemy has done in the holy place.
4 Roared have thine adversaries, In the midst of Thy meeting-places, They have set their ensigns as ensigns.
Your adversaries roared in the middle of your appointed place; they set up their battle flags.
5 He is known as one bringing in on high Against a thicket of wood — axes.
They hacked away with axes as in a thick forest.
6 And now, its carvings together With axe and hatchet they break down,
They smashed and broke down all the engravings; they broke them with axes and hammers.
7 They have sent into fire Thy sanctuary, to the earth they polluted the tabernacle of Thy name,
They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrated where you live, knocking it to the ground.
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 in their hearts, “We will destroy them all.” They burned up all of your meeting places in the land.
9 Our ensigns we have not seen, There is no more a prophet, Nor with us is one knowing 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 Till when, O God, doth an adversary reproach? Doth an enemy despise thy name for ever?
How long, God, will the enemy throw insults at you? Will the enemy blaspheme your name 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 your hand, your right hand? Take your right hand from your garment and destroy them.
12 And 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 hast broken by Thy strength a sea -[monster], Thou hast shivered Heads of dragons by the waters,
You divided the sea by your strength; you smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
14 Thou hast broken the heads of leviathan, Thou makest him food, For the people of the dry places.
You crushed the heads of leviathan; you fed him to those living in the wilderness.
15 Thou hast cleaved a fountain and a stream, Thou hast dried up perennial flowings.
You broke open springs and streams; you dried up flowing rivers.
16 Thine [is] the day, also Thine [is] the night, Thou hast prepared a light giver — the sun.
The day is yours, and the night is yours also; you set the sun and moon in place.
17 Thou hast set up all the borders of earth, Summer and winter Thou hast formed them.
You have set all the borders of the earth; you have made summer and winter.
18 Remember this — an enemy reproached Jehovah, And a foolish people have despised Thy name.
Call to mind how the enemy hurled insults at you, Yahweh, and that a foolish people has blasphemed your name.
19 Give not up to a company, The soul of Thy turtle-dove, The company of Thy poor ones forget not 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 attentively to the covenant, For the dark places of earth, Have been full of habitations of violence.
Remember your covenant, for the dark regions of the land are full of places of violence.
21 Let not the oppressed turn back ashamed, 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 Thy plea, Remember Thy reproach from a fool all the day.
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 noise of Thy withstanders is going up continually!
Do not forget the voice of your adversaries or the uproar of those who continually defy you.
