Psalm 74

1 A Maskil of Asaph. <span class=|reftext|><a href=|#|><b>1</b></a> Why, O God, have You rejected us forever? Your anger smolders against the flock of Your pasture.

2 Remember Your congregation You acquired of old; You redeemed [as] the staff of Your inheritance this Mount Zion—in it You have dwelt!

3 Lift up Your steps to the perpetual desolations—to everything done wickedly [by] the enemy in the sanctuary!

4 Your adversaries have roared within Your meeting place; they have set up their signs [for] signs.

5 He made himself known like one bringing on high axes against a thicket of tree;

6 and now all its engravings they strike down with ax and hatchet.

7 They have sent Your sanctuary into the fire, to the ground; they have desecrated the dwelling place of Your Name.

8 They said in their hearts, “Let us oppress them altogether!” They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

9 Signs for us we do not see; there is no longer a prophet, and there is no one among us knowing until when.

10 Until when, O God, will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy revile Your name forever?

11 Why do You turn back Your hand, and Your right hand? May You remove [it] from the midst of Your bosom!

12 For God [is] my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the dragons upon the waters.

14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You gave him [as] food to the people of the dry places.

15 You burst open spring and stream; You dried up the enduring rivers.

16 To You [is] the day, also to You [is] the night; You established the light and the sun.

17 You set all the boundaries of the earth; summer and winter, You have formed them.

18 Remember this, an enemy has reproached YHWH, and a foolish people have spurned Your name!

19 Do not give to the wild beast the soul of Your dove; do not forget the life of Your afflicted ones forever!

20 Look to the covenant! For the dark places of the earth are filled [as] habitations of violence.

21 Do not let the oppressed turn back, having been disgraced; let the afflicted and needy ones praise Your name.

22 Arise, O God, defend Your cause! Remember the scorning of You from a fool all the day.

23 Do not forget the voice of Your enemies, the uproar of those rising against You, going up continually.