Psalms 74

1An Instruction of Asaph. Why, O God, hast Thou cast off for ever? Thine anger smoketh against the flock of Thy pasture.

1 Of God, why have you put us away from you for ever? why is the fire of your wrath smoking against the sheep who are your care?

2Remember Thy company. Thou didst purchase of old, Thou didst redeem the rod of Thy inheritance, This mount Zion--Thou didst dwell in it.

2Keep in mind your band of worshippers, for whom you gave payment in the days which are past, whom you took for yourself as the people of your heritage; even this mountain of Zion, which has been your resting-place.

3Lift up Thy steps to the perpetual desolations, Everything the enemy did wickedly in the sanctuary.

3Go up and see the unending destruction; all the evil which your haters have done in the holy place;

4Roared have thine adversaries, In the midst of Thy meeting-places, They have set their ensigns as ensigns.

4Sending out their voices like lions among your worshippers; they have put up their signs to be seen.

5He is known as one bringing in on high Against a thicket of wood--axes.

5They are cutting down, like a man whose blade is lifted up against the thick trees.

6And now, its carvings together With axe and hatchet they break down,

6Your doors are broken down with hammers and iron blades.

7They have sent into fire Thy sanctuary, to the earth they polluted the tabernacle of Thy name,

7They have put on fire your holy place; they have made the place of your name unclean, pulling it down to the earth.

8They said in their hearts, `Let us oppress them together,' They did burn all the meeting-places of God in the land.

8They have said in their hearts, Let us put an end to them all together; they have given over to the fire all God's places of worship in the land.

9Our ensigns we have not seen, There is no more a prophet, Nor with us is one knowing how long.

9We do not see our signs: there is no longer any prophet, or anyone among us to say how long.

10Till when, O God, doth an adversary reproach? Doth an enemy despise thy name for ever?

10O God, how long will those who are against us say cruel things? will the hater go on looking down on your name for ever?

11Why dost Thou turn back Thy hand, Even Thy right hand? From the midst of Thy bosom remove <FI>it<Fi> .

11Why are you keeping back your hand, and covering your right hand in your robe?

12And God <FI>is<Fi> my king of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

12For from the past God is my King, working salvation in the earth.

13Thou hast broken by Thy strength a sea-<FI> monster<Fi> , Thou hast shivered Heads of dragons by the waters,

13The sea was parted in two by your strength; the heads of the great sea-beasts were broken.

14Thou hast broken the heads of leviathan, Thou makest him food, For the people of the dry places.

14The heads of the great snake were crushed by you; you gave them as food to the fishes of the sea.

15Thou hast cleaved a fountain and a stream, Thou hast dried up perennial flowings.

15You made valleys for fountains and springs; you made the ever-flowing rivers dry.

16Thine <FI>is<Fi> the day, also Thine <FI>is<Fi> the night, Thou hast prepared a light giver--the sun.

16The day is yours and the night is yours: you made the light and the sun.

17Thou hast set up all the borders of earth, Summer and winter Thou hast formed them.

17By you all the limits of the earth were fixed; you have made summer and winter.

18Remember this--an enemy reproached Jehovah, And a foolish people have despised Thy name.

18Keep this in mind, O Lord, that your haters have said cruel things, and that your name has been looked down on by a people of evil behaviour.

19Give not up to a company, The soul of Thy turtle-dove, The company of Thy poor ones forget not for ever.

19O give not the soul of your dove to the hawk; let not the life of the poor go out of your memory for ever.

20Look attentively to the covenant, For the dark places of earth, Have been full of habitations of violence.

20Keep in mind your undertaking; for the dark places of the earth are full of pride and cruel acts.

21Let not the oppressed turn back ashamed, Let the poor and needy praise Thy name,

21O let not the crushed be turned back in shame; let the low man and the poor give praise to your name.

22Arise, O God, plead Thy plea, Remember Thy reproach from a fool all the day.

22Up! O God, be the judge of your cause; keep in mind the bitter things which the man of evil behaviour says against you every day.

23Forget not the voice of Thine adversaries, The noise of Thy withstanders is going up continually!

23Keep in mind the voice of your haters; the outcry of those who come against you goes up every day.