Psalms 74 — FBV

A psalm (maskil) of Asaph.

74Verse 1God, why have you rejected us? Is it forever? Why does your anger burn so hot against the sheep of your own field?
^{Verse 2}Remember the people you made your own long ago, the tribe you redeemed and made your own. Remember too Mount Zion, the place where you live.
^{Verse 3}Come and walk through the complete devastation.⁺The enemy has totally destroyed your Temple.
^{Verse 4}The enemy shouted in triumph right where you met with us.⁺There they set up their war banners as signs of their victory.
^{Verse 5}They acted like men chopping down a forest with axes.
^{Verse 6}With axes and hammers they smashed in the carved wooden panels.
^{Verse 7}Then they set fire to your Temple, burning it to the ground. They defiled the place where you live, the place that bears your name.
^{Verse 8}They said to themselves, “Let's destroy it all!” So they burned down every place where God was worshiped throughout the land.
^{Verse 9}We no longer see any signs.⁺There are no prophets left. And no one among us knows how long this will last.
^{Verse 10}How long will the enemy ridicule you, God? Will they insult your character⁺forever?
^{Verse 11}Why do you hold back from doing something? Take action and destroy them!^{+
Verse 12}But you, God, are our⁺king from long ago. You have saved us many times in the land.
^{Verse 13}You were the one⁺who split apart the sea by your strength; you broke the heads of the sea monsters.
^{Verse 14}You were the one who crushed the heads of Leviathan,⁺and you gave its body to the desert animals to eat.
^{Verse 15}You were the one who made springs and rivers flow with water. You made permanent rivers dry up.
^{Verse 16}You created the day, and also the night; you made the moon⁺and the sun.
^{Verse 17}You set the boundaries of the earth;⁺you made summer and winter.
^{Verse 18}So keep in mind how the enemy ridiculed you, Lord, and how irreverent people insulted your reputation.
^{Verse 19}Don't let wild animals kill your turtledoves!⁺Don't abandon your people forever!
^{Verse 20}Remember your promises in the agreement,⁺because the land is full of dark places and violence.
^{Verse 21}Don't let those who suffer be mistreated again. Let the poor and needy praise you for you who are.
^{Verse 22}Stand up, God, and plead your case. Don't forget how these foolish people insulted you all the time.
^{Verse 23}Don't ignore what your enemies have said, for their loud accusations against you are getting worse and worse!