Psalm 74

A maskil. Of Asaph. Why, God, have you rejected {us} forever? {Why} does your nose smoke against the flock of your pasture? 2 Remember your congregation {that} you acquired {in} antiquity, {which} you redeemed, the tribe of your inheritance, this Mount Zion on which you have dwelt. \* 3 Lift up your feet to the destructions of perpetuity, {to} all the enemy has damaged in the holy place. 4 Your adversaries roared in the midst of your meeting place; they set up their signs {as} signs. 5 It was known like one bringing upward axes in a thicket of trees. 6 And now with hatchet and hammers they have broken down its carvings altogether. \* 7 They sent your holy place into fire; they profaned the dwelling of your name to the ground. 8 They said in their heart, “Let us oppress them altogether.” They burned all of the meeting places of God in the land. \* 9 We do not see our signs; there is no longer a prophet and not one with us knowing until when. 10 Until when, God, will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy despise your name forever? 11 Why do you hold back your hand, even your right hand? From the midst of your bosom finish {them}! \* 12 But God {is} my king from antiquity, working salvations in the midst of the earth. 13 You, you divided the sea by your strength; you broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters. \* 14 You, you crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him {as} food to a people, to the desert-dwellers. 15 You, you split open spring and wadi; you, you dry up perpetual rivers. \* 16 The day {is} to you; the night {is} also to you. You, you established the light and the sun. 17 You, you set all of the boundaries of the earth; summer and winter, you, you formed them. \* 18 Remember this: the enemy has reproached God, and a foolish people has despised your name. 19 May you not give the life of your dove to a beast; may you not forget the life of your poor forever. \* 20 Regard the covenant, for pastures of violence fill the dark places of the land. 21 May the weak not return ashamed; may the poor and the needy praise your name. \* 22 Arise, God! Plead your case! Remember your reproach from the fool all of the day. 23 Do not forget the voice of your adversaries, the uproar of the ones rising against you, going up continually. \*