| Chapter 74 |
1 | Maschil. Of Asaph.
Of God, why have you put us away from you for ever? why is the fire of your wrath smoking against the sheep who are your care? |
2 | Keep in mind your band of worshippers, for whom you gave payment in the days which are past, whom you took for yourself as the people of your heritage; even this mountain of Zion, which has been your resting-place. |
3 | Go up and see the unending destruction; all the evil which your haters have done in the holy place; |
4 | Sending out their voices like lions among your worshippers; they have put up their signs to be seen. |
5 | They are cutting down, like a man whose blade is lifted up against the thick trees. |
6 | Your doors are broken down with hammers and iron blades. |
7 | They have put on fire your holy place; they have made the place of your name unclean, pulling it down to the earth. |
8 | They have said in their hearts, Let us put an end to them all together; they have given over to the fire all God's places of worship in the land. |
9 | We do not see our signs: there is no longer any prophet, or anyone among us to say how long. |
10 | O God, how long will those who are against us say cruel things? will the hater go on looking down on your name for ever? |
11 | Why are you keeping back your hand, and covering your right hand in your robe? |
12 | For from the past God is my King, working salvation in the earth. |
13 | The sea was parted in two by your strength; the heads of the great sea-beasts were broken. |
14 | The heads of the great snake were crushed by you; you gave them as food to the fishes of the sea. |
15 | You made valleys for fountains and springs; you made the ever-flowing rivers dry. |
16 | The day is yours and the night is yours: you made the light and the sun. |
17 | By you all the limits of the earth were fixed; you have made summer and winter. |
18 | Keep this in mind, O Lord, that your haters have said cruel things, and that your name has been looked down on by a people of evil behaviour. |
19 | O give not the soul of your dove to the hawk; let not the life of the poor go out of your memory for ever. |
20 | Keep in mind your undertaking; for the dark places of the earth are full of pride and cruel acts. |
21 | O let not the crushed be turned back in shame; let the low man and the poor give praise to your name. |
22 | Up! O God, be the judge of your cause; keep in mind the bitter things which the man of evil behaviour says against you every day. |
23 | Keep in mind the voice of your haters; the outcry of those who come against you goes up every day. |