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 woods.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 prophets,22
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 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 moon and sun in place.35
74:17 You set up all the boundaries36
of the earth,
you created the cycle of summer and winter.37
74:18 Remember how38
the enemy hurls insults, O LORD,39
and how a foolish nation blasphemes your name!
74:19 Do not hand the life of your dove40
over to a wild animal!
Do not continue to disregard41
the lives of your oppressed people!
74:20 Remember your covenant promises,42
for the dark regions of the earth are full of places where violence rules.43
74:21 Do not let the afflicted be turned back in shame!
Let the oppressed and poor praise your name!44
74:22 Rise up, O God! Defend your honor!45
Remember how fools insult you all day long!46
74:23 Do not disregard47
what your enemies say,48
or the unceasing shouts of those who defy you.49