Psalm 74

By Asaph

O God, why have you rejected us forever?
Why does your anger rage against your pasture’s flock?
Remember the congregation you chose long ago,
The tribe your liberated to be your possession,
And remember where you had made your home, Mount Zion.
Make your way through the everlasting desolation,
The enemy’s total destruction of the Temple.
There, in your meeting place, your adversaries roared
And replaced our banners with their battle standards.
It is well known they came down upon us like woodsmen
Wielding their axes upon a forest of trees.
They smashed the wood carvings with their hatchets and hammers.
They set aflame and profaned your sanctuary,
Burning to the ground the Temple that bears your name.
They vowed to themselves, “Let us crush them completely!”
Throughout the land they razed all your places of worship.

No longer are we given portents from our God;
No more are there among us here any prophets
Or anyone who has a knowledge of the future.
How long, O God, will your enemies revile you?
Will your adversaries profane your name forever?
Why do you withdraw your hand, even your right hand?
Take it from out your bosom and destroy them!

For God is our king of ancient times
Working salvation throughout the world.
You divided the sea with your might
And smashed the heads of sea serpents.
You crushed the heads of Leviathan
And made it food for desert dwellers.
You opened the fountain and the spring,
Drying up ever-flowing rivers.

The day is yours and also is the night;
You made the light and set the sun in its place.
You established the borders of the earth
And created the summer and the winter.

Remember how an enemy mocked you, Jehovah;
How a degenerate people disparaged your name.
Do not deliver the life of your dove to wild beasts,
Or forever forget the souls of your afflicted ones.

Remember the contract you made with us,
For there are dark places upon the earth
That are habitations of the violent.
Let not the oppressed retreat in disgrace.
Let the weak and the needy praise your name.

Rise up, O God, and defend your cause!
Remember how the godless fool
Is reproaching you all the day.

Do not ignore the clamor of your foes,
The constant uproar from those that defy you.