Psalms 74

An Appeal against the Devastation of the Land by the Enemy.

A Possibly, Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful PsalmMaskil of Asaph.

1God, why have You 1rejected us forever? Why does Your anger 2smoke against the 3sheep of Your 4pasture?2Remember Your congregation, which You 5purchased of old, Which You have 6redeemed to be the 7tribe of Your inheritance; And this Mount 8Zion, where You have dwelt.39Step toward the 1011irreparable ruins; The enemy 12has damaged everything in the sanctuary.4Your adversaries have 13roared in the midst of Your meeting place; They have set up their 14own signs as 15signs.5It 16seems like one bringing up His 17axe into a 18forest of trees.6And now they break down 19all its 20carved work With axe and hammers.7They have 2122burned Your sanctuary 23to the ground; They have 24defiled the dwelling place of Your name.8They 25said in their heart, “Let’s 26completely 27subdue them.” They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.9We do not see our 28signs; There is 29no longer any prophet, Nor is there anyone among us who knows 30how long.10How long, God, will the enemy 31taunt You? Shall the enemy 32treat Your name disrespectfully forever?11Why 33do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Extend it from Your chest and 34destroy them!

12Yet God is 35my King from long ago, Who performs acts of salvation in the midst of the earth.1336You 37divided the sea by Your strength; 38You 39broke the heads of the 40sea monsters 41in the waters.1442You crushed the heads of 4344Leviathan; You gave him as food for the 45creatures 46of the wilderness.1547You 48broke open springs and torrents; 49You 50dried up ever-flowing streams.16Yours is the day, Yours also is the night; 51You have 52prepared the 53light and the sun.1754You have 55established all the boundaries of the earth; 56You have 57created 58summer and winter.

18Remember this, 59Lord, that the enemy has 60taunted You, And a 61foolish people has treated Your name disrespectfully.19Do not give the soul of Your 62turtledove to the wild animal; 63Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.20Consider the 64covenant; For the 65dark places of the land are full of the places of violence.21May the 66oppressed person not return dishonored; May the 67afflicted and the needy praise Your name.

22Arise, God, and 68plead Your own cause; Remember 69how the 70foolish person taunts You all day long.23Do not forget the voice of Your 71adversaries, The 72uproar of those who rise against You, which ascends continually.