Psalms 74

74[A psalm

of Asaph.] O God, why have you rejected us so long? Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture?H4905H623H430H2186H5331H639H6225H6629H48302Remember that we are the people you chose long ago, the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession! And remember Jerusalem

, your home here on earth.H2142H5712H7069H6924H7626H5159H1350H2022H6726H79313Walk through the awful ruins of the city; see how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary.H7311H6471H5331H4876H341H7489H69444There your enemies shouted their victorious battle cries; there they set up their battle standards.H6887H7580H7130H4150H7760H226H2265They swung their axes like woodcutters in a forest.H3045H935H4605H7134H5442H60866With axes and picks, they smashed the carved paneling.H1986H6603H3162H3781H35977They burned your sanctuary to the ground. They defiled the place that bears your name.H7971H784H4720H2490H4908H8034H7768Then they thought, “Let’s destroy everything!” So they burned down all the places where God was worshiped.H559H3820H3238H3162H8313H4150H410H7769We no longer see your miraculous signs. All the prophets are gone, and no one can tell us when it will end.H7200H226H5030H3045H570410How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever?H430H6862H2778H341H5006H8034H533111Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.H7725H3027H3225H3615H7130H2436H243612You, O God, are my king from ages past, bringing salvation to the earth.H430H4428H6924H6466H3444H7130H77613You split the sea by your strength and smashed the heads of the sea monsters.H6565H3220H5797H7665H7218H8577H432514You crushed the heads of Leviathan① and let the desert animals eat him./ ①The identification of Leviathan is disputed, ranging from an earthly creature to a mythical sea monster in ancient literatureH7533H7218H3882H5414H3978H5971H672815You caused the springs and streams to gush forth, and you dried up rivers that never run dry.H1234H4599H5158H3001H386H510416Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight

and the sun.H3117H3915H3559H3974H812117You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.H5324H1367H776H3335H7019H277918See how these enemies insult you, Lord. A foolish nation has dishonored your name.H2142H341H2778H3068H5036H5971H5006H803419Don’t let these wild beasts destroy your turtledoves. Don’t forget your suffering people forever.H5414H5315H8449H2416H7911H2416H6041H533120Remember your covenant promises, for the land is full of darkness and violence!H5027H1285H4285H776H4390H4999H255521Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again. Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.H1790H7725H3637H6041H34H1984H803422Arise, O God, and defend your cause. Remember how these fools insult you all day long.H6965H430H7378H7379H2142H5036H2781H311723Don’t overlook what your enemies have said or their growing uproar.H7911H6963H6887H7588H6965H5927H8548