Psalms 74
1O GOD, why hast Thou utterly cast off? Why is Thy wrath extreme against the sheep of Thy pasture?
2Remember Thy congregation which Thou hast purchased of old; this portion to Thine inheritance which Thou hast redeemed; this mount Sion on which Thou hast dwelt.
3Lift up Thy hands against their perpetual haughtiness; for all that the enemy hath wickedly done in Thy Holies.
4They who hate Thee have indeed triumphed: in the midst of Thy festival they set up their own signs:
5The signs pointing to the entrance above they did not know. As if in a forest of trees,
6they cut down with axes the doors of that entrance. Then with hatchets and mattocks they broke it down.
7They burned Thy sanctuary to the ground with fire: they profaned the habitation of Thy name.
8They said, The whole brood of them are in their heart set upon this: come, let us cause to cease from the land the festivals of the Lord.
9The signs peculiarly ours we do not see: there is no more a prophet; nor will he any more acknowledge us.
10How long O God, shall the enemy reproach? Shall the adversary blaspheme Thy name forever?
11Why dost Thou withdraw Thy hand? Let Thy right hand be ever out of Thy bosom.
12God was indeed our king of old. He wrought deliverance in the midst of this land.
13Thou by Thy power didst exercise dominion over the sea: Thou didst crush the heads of the dragons in the water.
14Thou didst crush the heads of the dragon: Thou gavest him to be meat for the Ethiopean tribes.
15Thou didst cause springs and torrents to burst forth. Thou didst dry up the rivers of Etham.
16Thine is the day and the night is Thine: it is Thou Who preparedst the sun and moon.
17Thou hast made all the borders of the earth: summer and spring were made by Thee.
18Remember this creation of Thine.
19An enemy hath reproached the Lord; a foolish people hath blasphemed Thy name. Deliver not up to the wild beasts a soul which praiseth Thee. Forget not forever the souls of Thy afflicted people.
20Have respect to Thy covenant, because the dark places of this land have been filled with habitations of iniquity,
21let not him who hath been humbled and shamed be utterly scorned: let the afflicted and needy praise Thy name.
22Arise, O God, plead Thine own cause: remember the reproaches cast on Thee, all day long, by a fool.
23Forget not the voice of Thy suppliants: let the pride of them, who hate Thee, ascend continually before Thee.