Psalmorum 74
1 Psalmus Intellectus Asaph. Ut quid Deus repulisti in finem: iratus est furor tuus super oves pascuae tuae?
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 Memor esto congregationis tuae, quam possedisti ab initio. Redemisti virgam hereditatis tuae: mons Sion, in quo habitasti in eo.
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 Leva manus tuas in superbias eorum in finem: quanta malignatus est inimicus in sancto!
Come and walk through the complete devastation. The enemy has totally destroyed your Temple.
4 Et gloriati sunt qui oderunt te: in medio sollemnitatis tuae. Posuerunt signa sua, signa:
The enemy shouted in triumph right where you met with us. There they set up their war banners as signs of their victory.
5 et non cognoverunt sicut in exitu super summum. Quasi in silva lignorum securibus
They acted like men chopping down a forest with axes.
6 exciderunt ianuas eius in idipsum: in securi, et ascia deiecerunt eam.
With axes and hammers they smashed in the carved wooden panels.
7 Incenderunt igni Sanctuarium tuum: in terra polluerunt tabernaculum nominis tui.
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 Dixerunt in corde suo cognatio eorum simul: quiescere faciamus omnes dies festos Dei a terra.
They said to themselves, “Let's destroy it all!” So they burned down every place where God was worshiped throughout the land.
9 Signa nostra non vidimus, iam non est propheta: et nos non cognoscet amplius.
We no longer see any signs. There are no prophets left. And no one among us knows how long this will last.
10 Usquequo Deus improperabit inimicus: irritat adversarius nomen tuum in finem?
How long will the enemy ridicule you, God? Will they insult your character forever?
11 Ut quid avertis manum tuam, et dexteram tuam, de medio sinu tuo in finem?
Why do you hold back from doing something? Take action and destroy them!
12 Deus autem rex noster ante saecula: operatus est salutem in medio terrae.
But you, God, are our king from long ago. You have saved us many times in the land.
13 Tu confirmasti in virtute tua mare: contribulasti capita draconum in aquis.
You were the one who split apart the sea by your strength; you broke the heads of the sea monsters.
14 Tu confregisti capita draconis: dedisti eum escam populis Aethiopum.
You were the one who crushed the heads of Leviathan, and you gave its body to the desert animals to eat.
15 Tu dirupisti fontes, et torrentes: tu siccasti fluvios Ethan.
You were the one who made springs and rivers flow with water. You made permanent rivers dry up.
16 Tuus est dies, et tua est nox: tu fabricatus es auroram et solem.
You created the day, and also the night; you made the moon and the sun.
17 Tu fecisti omnes terminos terrae: aestatem et ver tu plasmasti ea.
You set the boundaries of the earth; you made summer and winter.
18 Memor esto huius, inimicus improperavit Domino: et populus insipiens incitavit nomen tuum.
So keep in mind how the enemy ridiculed you, Lord, and how irreverent people insulted your reputation.
19 Ne tradas bestiis animas confitentes tibi, et animas pauperum tuorum ne obliviscaris in finem.
Don't let wild animals kill your turtledoves! Don't abandon your people forever!
20 Respice in testamentum tuum: quia repleti sunt, qui obscurati sunt terrae domibus iniquitatum.
Remember your promises in the agreement, because the land is full of dark places and violence.
21 Ne avertatur humilis factus confusus: pauper et inops laudabunt nomen tuum.
Don't let those who suffer be mistreated again. Let the poor and needy praise you for you who are.
22 Exurge Deus, iudica causam tuam: memor esto improperiorum tuorum, eorum quae ab insipiente sunt tota die.
Stand up, God, and plead your case. Don't forget how these foolish people insulted you all the time.
23 Ne obliviscaris voces inimicorum tuorum: superbia eorum, qui te oderunt, ascendit semper.
Don't ignore what your enemies have said, for their loud accusations against you are getting worse and worse!
