74 1 The faithful complain of the destruction of the Church and true religion, 2 Under the Name of Zion, and the Temple destroyed: 11 and trusting in the might and free mercies of God, 20 by his covenant , 21 they require help and succor for the glory of God’s holy Name, for the salvation of his poor afflicted servants, 23 and the confusion of his proud enemies.

A Psalm to give instruction, committed to Asaph.

O God, [a]why hast thou put us away forever? why is thy wrath kindled against the sheep of thy pasture?

Think upon the congregation, which thou hast possessed of old, and on the [b]rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed, and on this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

Lift up thy [c]strokes, that thou mayest forever destroy every enemy that doeth evil to the Sanctuary.

Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregation, and [d]set up their banners for signs.

He that [e]lifted the axes upon the thick trees, was renowned as one that brought a thing to perfection:

But now they break down the carved work thereof with axes and hammers.

They have cast thy Sanctuary into the fire, and razed it to the ground, and have defiled the dwelling place of thy Name.

They said in their [f]hearts, Let us destroy them altogether: they have burnt all the Synagogues of God in the land.

We see not our signs: there is not one Prophet more, nor any with us that knoweth [g]how long.

10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach thee? shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name forever?

11 Why withdrawest thou thine hand, even thy right hand? draw it out of thy bosom, and [h]consume them.

12 Even God is my king of old, working salvation [i]in the midst of the earth.

13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy power: thou brakest the heads of the [j]dragons in the waters.

14 Thou brakest the head of [k]Leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be [l]meat for the people in wilderness.

15 Thou brakest up the fountain and river: thou driest up mighty rivers.

16 The [m]day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made Summer and Winter.

18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached the Lord, and the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.

19 Give not the soul of thy [n]turtle dove unto the beast, and forget not the Congregation of thy poor forever.

20 Consider thy covenant: for [o]the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of the cruel.

21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed, but let the poor and needy praise thy Name.

22 Arise, O God: maintain thy [p]own cause: remember thy daily reproach by the foolish man.

23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: for the tumult of them that rise against thee, [q]ascendeth continually.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 74:1 The Church of God being oppressed by the tyranny, either of the Babylonians or of Antiochus, prayeth to God by whose hand this yoke was laid upon them for their sins.
  2. Psalm 74:2 Which inheritance thou hast measured out for thyself as with a line or rod.
  3. Psalm 74:3 Or, feet.
  4. Psalm 74:4 They have destroyed thy true religion, and spread their banners in sign of defiance.
  5. Psalm 74:5 He commendeth the temple for the costly matter, the excellent workmanship, and beauty thereof, which notwithstanding the enemies did destroy.
  6. Psalm 74:8 They encouraged one another to cruelty, that not only God’s people might be destroyed, but also his religion utterly in all places suppressed.
  7. Psalm 74:9 They lament that they have no Prophet among them to show them how long their misery should endure.
  8. Psalm 74:11 They join their deliverance with God’s glory and power, knowing that the punishment of the enemy should be their deliverance.
  9. Psalm 74:12 Meaning, in the sight of all the world.
  10. Psalm 74:13 To wit, Pharaoh’s army.
  11. Psalm 74:14 Which was a great monster of the sea, or whale, meaning, Pharaoh.
  12. Psalm 74:14 His destruction did rejoice them as meat refresheth the body.
  13. Psalm 74:16 Seeing that God by his providence governeth and disposeth all things, he gathereth that he will take care chiefly for his children.
  14. Psalm 74:19 He meaneth the Church of God, which is exposed as a prey to the wicked.
  15. Psalm 74:20 That is, all places where thy word shineth not, there reigneth tyranny and ambition.
  16. Psalm 74:22 He showeth that God cannot suffer his Church to be oppressed, except he loose his own right.
  17. Psalm 74:23 Or, increaseth more and more.

Psalm 74

A maskil[a] of Asaph.

O God, why have you rejected(A) us forever?(B)
    Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?(C)
Remember the nation you purchased(D) long ago,(E)
    the people of your inheritance,(F) whom you redeemed(G)
    Mount Zion,(H) where you dwelt.(I)
Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,(J)
    all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

Your foes roared(K) in the place where you met with us;
    they set up their standards(L) as signs.
They behaved like men wielding axes
    to cut through a thicket of trees.(M)
They smashed all the carved(N) paneling
    with their axes and hatchets.
They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
    they defiled(O) the dwelling place(P) of your Name.(Q)
They said in their hearts, “We will crush(R) them completely!”
    They burned(S) every place where God was worshiped in the land.

We are given no signs from God;(T)
    no prophets(U) are left,
    and none of us knows how long this will be.
10 How long(V) will the enemy mock(W) you, God?
    Will the foe revile(X) your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?(Y)
    Take it from the folds of your garment(Z) and destroy them!

12 But God is my King(AA) from long ago;
    he brings salvation(AB) on the earth.

13 It was you who split open the sea(AC) by your power;
    you broke the heads of the monster(AD) in the waters.
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan(AE)
    and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.(AF)
15 It was you who opened up springs(AG) and streams;
    you dried up(AH) the ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
    you established the sun and moon.(AI)
17 It was you who set all the boundaries(AJ) of the earth;
    you made both summer and winter.(AK)

18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,
    how foolish people(AL) have reviled your name.
19 Do not hand over the life of your dove(AM) to wild beasts;
    do not forget the lives of your afflicted(AN) people forever.
20 Have regard for your covenant,(AO)
    because haunts of violence fill the dark places(AP) of the land.
21 Do not let the oppressed(AQ) retreat in disgrace;
    may the poor and needy(AR) praise your name.
22 Rise up,(AS) O God, and defend your cause;
    remember how fools(AT) mock you all day long.
23 Do not ignore the clamor(AU) of your adversaries,(AV)
    the uproar(AW) of your enemies,(AX) which rises continually.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 74:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term