Psalm 7453

A well-written song54 by Asaph.

74:1 Why, O God, have you permanently rejected us?1

Why does your anger burn2 against the sheep of your pasture?

74:2 Remember your people3 whom you acquired in ancient times,

whom you rescued4 so they could be your very own nation,5

as well as Mount Zion, where you dwell!

74:3 Hurry and look6 at the permanent ruins,

and all the damage the enemy has done to the temple!7

74:4 Your enemies roar8 in the middle of your sanctuary;9

they set up their battle flags.10

74:5 They invade like lumberjacks

swinging their axes in a thick forest.11

74:6 And now12 they are tearing down13 all its engravings14

with axes15 and crowbars.16

74:7 They set your sanctuary on fire;

they desecrate your dwelling place by knocking it to the ground.17

74:8 They say to themselves,18

“We will oppress all of them.”19

They burn down all the places where people worship God in the land.20

74:9 We do not see any signs of God’s presence;21

there are no longer any prophets22

and we have no one to tell us how long this will last.23

74:10 How long, O God, will the adversary hurl insults?

Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever?

74:11 Why do you remain inactive?

Intervene and destroy him!24

74:12 But God has been my25 king from ancient times,

performing acts of deliverance on the earth.26

74:13 You destroyed27 the sea by your strength;

you shattered the heads of the sea monster28 in the water.

74:14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan;29

you fed30 him to the people who live along the coast.31

74:15 You broke open the spring and the stream;32

you dried up perpetually flowing rivers.33

74:16 You established the cycle of day and night;34

you put the moon35 and sun in place.36

74:17 You set up all the boundaries37 of the earth;

you created the cycle of summer and winter.38

74:18 Remember how39 the enemy hurls insults, O Lord,40

and how a foolish nation blasphemes your name!

74:19 Do not hand the life of your dove41 over to a wild animal!

Do not continue to disregard42 the lives of your oppressed people!

74:20 Remember your covenant promises,43

for the dark regions of the earth are full of places where violence rules.44

74:21 Do not let the afflicted be turned back in shame!

Let the oppressed and poor praise your name!45

74:22 Rise up, O God! Defend your honor!46

Remember how fools insult you all day long!47

74:23 Do not disregard48 what your enemies say,49

or the unceasing shouts of those who defy you.50