Psalm 74
Ut quid, Deus?
O GOD, wherefore art thou absent from us so long? why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture? O think upon thy congregation, whom thou hast purchased, and redeemed of old. Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance, and Mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt. Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy, which hath done evil in thy sanctuary. Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congreg-ations, and set up their banners for tokens. He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees, was known to bring it to an excellent work. But now they break down all the carved work there-of with axes and hammers. They have set fire upon thy holy places, and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground. Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havoc of them altogether: thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land. We see not our tokens; there is not one prophet more; no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more. O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour? shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name for ever? Why withdrawest thou thy hand? why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy? For God is my King of old; the help that is done upon earth, he doeth it himself. Thou didst divide the sea through thy power; thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. Thou smotest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat for the people of the wilderness. Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks; thou driedst up mighty waters. The day is thine, and the night 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, O LORD, how the enemy hath rebuked; and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name. O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the enemies; and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever. Look upon the covenant; for all the earth is full of darkness and cruel habitations. O let not the simple go away ashamed; but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name. Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause; remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily. Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the pre-sumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.
[Coverdale]
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. [AV]