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Psalm 74 ¹ A maskil Title: Probably a literary or musical term of Asaph. 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.