Psalm 74

Psalm 74 – New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 74

A maskil^[a] of Asaph.

1. O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2. Remember the nation you purchased long ago, the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed—Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
3. Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4. Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs.
5. They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.
6. They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets.
7. They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
8. They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!” They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.
9. We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be.
10. How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever?
11. Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
12. But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.
13. It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
14. It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
15. It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
16. The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
17. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
18. Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name.
19. Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.
20. Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
21. Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.
22. Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long.
23. Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.

Footnotes

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 74 – King James Version (KJV)

Maschil of Asaph.

1. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? Why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
2. Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; The rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; This mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
3. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; Even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
4. Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; They set up their ensigns for signs.
5. A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
6. But now they break down the carved work Thereof at once with axes and hammers.
7. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, They have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
8. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: They have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
9. We see not our signs: There is no more any prophet: Neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
10. O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
11. Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? Pluck it out of thy bosom.
12. For God is my King of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13. Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: Thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14. Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, And gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15. Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: Thou driedst up mighty rivers.
16. The day is thine, the night also 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, O LORD, And that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
19. O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: Forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
20. Have respect unto the covenant: For the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
21. O let not the oppressed return ashamed: Let the poor and needy praise thy name.
22. Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: Remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
23. Forget not the voice of thine enemies: The tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.