Psalms 74

Prev Next

[1]The Psalmist complaineth of the desolation of the sanctuary: [10]he moveth God to help in consideration of his power, [18]of the reproach of the enemies, [19]and of his church and covenant.

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.

Maschil of Asaph. O GOD, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? 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. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs. A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom. For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness. Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers. The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter. Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever. Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name. Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily. Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.

NKJV

1. O God, why have You cast us off forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

2. Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old,
The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—
This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.

3. Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.
The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.

4. Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place;
They set up their banners for signs.

5. They seem like men who lift up
Axes among the thick trees.

6. And now they break down its carved work, all at once,
With axes and hammers.

7. They have set fire to Your sanctuary;
They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.

8. They said in their hearts,
“Let us destroy them altogether.”
They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.

9. We do not see our signs;
There is no longer any prophet;
Nor is there any among us who knows how long.

10. O God, how long will the adversary reproach?
Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?

11. Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.

12. For God is my King from of old,
Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13. You divided the sea by Your strength;
You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.

14. You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces,
And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

15. You broke open the fountain and the flood;
You dried up mighty rivers.

16. The day is Yours, the night also is Yours;
You have prepared the light and the sun.

17. You have set all the borders of the earth;
You have made summer and winter.

18. Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord,
And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name.

19. Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast!
Do not forget the life of Your poor forever.

20. Have respect to the covenant;
For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.

21. Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed!
Let the poor and needy praise Your name.

22. Arise, O God, plead Your own cause;
Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.

23. Do not forget the voice of Your enemies;
The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.

O God, why have You cast us off forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old,
The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—
This Mount Zion where You have dwelt. Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.
The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place;
They set up their banners for signs. They seem like men who lift up
Axes among the thick trees. And now they break down its carved work, all at once,
With axes and hammers. They have set fire to Your sanctuary;
They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground. They said in their hearts,
“Let us destroy them altogether.”
They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land. We do not see our signs;
There is no longer any prophet;
Nor is there any among us who knows how long. O God, how long will the adversary reproach?
Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them. For God is my King from of old,
Working salvation in the midst of the earth. You divided the sea by Your strength;
You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces,
And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness. You broke open the fountain and the flood;
You dried up mighty rivers. The day is Yours, the night also is Yours;
You have prepared the light and the sun. You have set all the borders of the earth;
You have made summer and winter. Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord,
And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name. Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast!
Do not forget the life of Your poor forever. Have respect to the covenant;
For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty. Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed!
Let the poor and needy praise Your name. Arise, O God, plead Your own cause;
Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily. Do not forget the voice of Your enemies;
The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.

Metrical version

Psalm 74

C.M. St. Kilda

O God, why hast thou cast us off?
is it for evermore?
Against thy pasture-sheep why doth
thine anger smoke so sore?

O call to thy rememberance
thy congregation,
Which thou hast purchased of old;
still think the same upon:

The rod of thine inheritance,
which thou redeemed hast,
This Zion hill, wherein thou hadst
thy dwelling in times past.

To these long desolations
thy feet lift, do not tarry;
For all the ills thy foes have done
within thy sanctuary.

Amidst thy congregations
thine enemies do roar:
Their ensigns they set up for signs
of triumph thee before.

A man was famous, and was had
in estimation,
According as he lifted up
his axe thick trees upon.

But all at once with axes now
and hammers they go to,
And down the carved work thereof
they break, and quite undo.

They fired have thy sanctuary,
and have defiled the same,
By casting down unto the ground
the place where dwelt thy name.

Thus said they in their hearts, Let us
destroy them out of hand:
They burnt up all the synagogues
of God within the land.

Our signs we do not now behold;
there is not us among
A prophet more, nor any one
that knows the time how long.

How long, Lord, shall the enemy
thus in reproach exclaim?
And shall the adversary thus
always blaspheme thy name?

Thy hand, ev'n thy right hand of might,
why dost thou thus draw back?
O from thy bosom pluck it out
for our deliv'rance' sake.

For certainly God is my King,
ev'n from the times of old,
Working in midst of all the earth
salvation manifold.

The sea, by thy great pow'r, to part
asunder thou didst make;
And thou the dragons' heads, O Lord,
within the waters brake.

The leviathan's head thou brak'st
in pieces, and didst give
Him to be meat unto the folk
in wilderness that live.

Thou clav'st the fountain and the flood,
which did with streams abound:
Thou dri'dst the mighty waters up
unto the very ground.

Thine only is the day, O Lord,
thine also is the night;
And thou alone prepared hast
the sun and shining light.

By thee the borders of the earth
were settled everywhere:
The summer and the winter both
by thee created were.

That th' enemy reproached hath,
O keep it in record;
And that the foolish people have
blasphemed thy name, O LORD.

Unto the multitude do not
thy turtle's soul deliver:
The congregation of thy poor
do not forget for ever.

Unto thy cov'nant have respect;
for earth's dark places be
Full of the habitations
of horrid cruelty.

O let not those that be oppressed
return again with shame:
Let those that poor and needy are
give praise unto thy name.

Do thou, O God, arise and plead
the cause that is thine own:
Remember how thou art reproached
still by the foolish one.

Do not forget the voice of those
that are thine enemies:
Of those the tumult ever grows
that do against thee rise.