Psalms 74 - Prayer Tents

Psalms 74

New Living Translation

A psalm of Asaph.

74O God, why have you rejected us so long? Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture?

2Remember that we are the people you chose long ago, the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession! And remember Jerusalem[2], your home here on earth.

3Walk through the awful ruins of the city; see how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary.

4There your enemies shouted their victorious battle cries; there they set up their battle standards.

5They swung their axes like woodcutters in a forest.

6With axes and picks, they smashed the carved paneling.

7They burned your sanctuary to the ground. They defiled the place that bears your name.

8Then they thought, “Let’s destroy everything!” So they burned down all the places where God was worshiped.

9We no longer see your miraculous signs. All the prophets are gone, and no one can tell us when it will end.

10How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever?

11Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.

12You, O God, are my king from ages past, bringing salvation to the earth.

13You split the sea by your strength and smashed the heads of the sea monsters.

14You crushed the heads of Leviathan and let the desert animals eat him./ The identification of Leviathan is disputed, ranging from an earthly creature to a mythical sea monster in ancient literature

15You caused the springs and streams to gush forth, and you dried up rivers that never run dry.

16Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight[3] and the sun.

17You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.

18See how these enemies insult you, Lord. A foolish nation has dishonored your name.

19Don’t let these wild beasts destroy your turtledoves. Don’t forget your suffering people forever.

20Remember your covenant promises, for the land is full of darkness and violence!

21Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again. Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.

22Arise, O God, and defend your cause. Remember how these fools insult you all day long.

23Don’t overlook what your enemies have said or their growing uproar.

[1] Psalms 74:1Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term
[2] Psalms 74:2Hebrew Mount Zion
[3] Psalms 74:16Or moon; Hebrew reads light