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Psalm chapter 74

English Standard Version

1O God, why do 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, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt. 3Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary! 4Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place; they set up their own signs for signs. 5They were like those who swing axes in a forest of trees. 6And all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers. 7They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground. 8They said to themselves, "We will utterly subdue them"; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land. 9We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long. 10How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? 11Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them! 12Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. 13You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. 14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. 15You split open springs and brooks; you dried up ever-flowing streams. 16Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun. 17You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter. 18 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name. 19Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever. 20Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. 21Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name. 22Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! 23Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!
New International Version

1A maskil of Asaph. O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture? 2Remember the nation you purchased long ago, the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed— Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
3Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary. 4Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs. 5They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees. 6They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets. 7They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
8They said in their hearts, "We will crush them completely!" They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land. 9We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be. 10How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever?
11Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
12But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth. 13It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters. 14It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert. 15It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever-flowing rivers. 16The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
17It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. 18Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name. 19Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever. 20Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land. 21Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name. 22Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. 23Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
New American Standard Bible

1 God, why have You rejected us forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? 2Remember Your congregation, which You purchased of old, Which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance; And this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt. 3 Step toward the irreparable ruins; The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. 4Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place; They have set up their own signs as signs. 5It seems like one bringing up His axe into a forest of trees. 6And now they break down all its carved work With axe and hammers. 7They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name. 8They said in their heart, 'Let’s completely subdue them.' They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land. 9We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet, Nor is there anyone among us who knows how long. 10How long, God, will the enemy taunt You? Shall the enemy treat Your name disrespectfully forever? 11Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Extend it from Your chest and destroy them! 12Yet God is my King from long ago, Who performs acts of salvation in the midst of the earth. 13 You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters. 14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. 15 You broke open springs and torrents; You dried up ever-flowing streams. 16Yours is the day, Yours also is the night; You have prepared the light and the sun. 17 You have established all the boundaries of the earth; You have created summer and winter. 18Remember this, Lord, that the enemy has taunted You, And a foolish people has treated Your name disrespectfully. 19Do not give the soul of Your turtledove to the wild animal; Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever. 20Consider the covenant; For the dark places of the land are full of the places of violence. 21May the oppressed person not return dishonored; May the afflicted and the needy praise Your name. 22Arise, God, and plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish person taunts You all day long. 23Do not forget the voice of Your adversaries, The uproar of those who rise against You, which ascends continually.
Christian Standard Bible

1A Maskil of Asaph. Why have you rejected us forever, God? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture? 2Remember your congregation, which you purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe for your own possession. Remember Mount Zion where you dwell. 3Make your way to the perpetual ruins, to all that the enemy has destroyed in the sanctuary. 4Your adversaries roared in the meeting place where you met with us. They set up their emblems as signs. 5It was like men in a thicket of trees, wielding axes, 6then smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks. 7They set your sanctuary on fire; they utterly desecrated the dwelling place of your name. 8They said in their hearts, "Let us oppress them relentlessly." They burned every place throughout the land where God met with us. 9There are no signs for us to see. There is no longer a prophet. And none of us knows how long this will last. 10God, how long will the enemy mock? Will the foe insult your name forever?
11Why do you hold back your hand? Stretch out your right hand and destroy them! 12God my King is from ancient times, performing saving acts on the earth. 13You divided the sea with your strength; you smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the water; 14you crushed the heads of Leviathan; you fed him to the creatures of the desert. 15You opened up springs and streams; you dried up ever-flowing rivers. 16The day is yours, also the night; you established the moon and the sun.
17You set all the boundaries of the earth; you made summer and winter. 18Remember this: the enemy has mocked the Lord, and a foolish people has insulted your name. 19Do not give to beasts the life of your dove; do not forget the lives of your poor people forever. 20Consider the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of violence. 21Do not let the oppressed turn away in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name. 22Rise up, God, champion your cause! Remember the insults that fools bring against you all day long. 23Do not forget the clamor of your adversaries, the tumult of your opponents that goes up constantly.
New Living Translation

1 O God, why have you rejected us so long? Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture? 2Remember that we are the people you chose long ago, the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession! And remember Jerusalem, your home here on earth. 3Walk through the awful ruins of the city; see how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary.
4There your enemies shouted their victorious battle cries; there they set up their battle standards. 5They swung their axes like woodcutters in a forest. 6With axes and picks, they smashed the carved paneling. 7They burned your sanctuary to the ground. They defiled the place that bears your name. 8Then they thought, 'Let’s destroy everything!' So they burned down all the places where God was worshiped.
9We no longer see your miraculous signs. All the prophets are gone, and no one can tell us when it will end. 10How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever? 11Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.
12You, O God, are my king from ages past, bringing salvation to the earth. 13You split the sea by your strength and smashed the heads of the sea monsters. 14You crushed the heads of Leviathan and let the desert animals eat him. 15You caused the springs and streams to gush forth, and you dried up rivers that never run dry. 16Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun. 17You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.
18See how these enemies insult you, Lord. A foolish nation has dishonored your name. 19Don’t let these wild beasts destroy your turtledoves. Don’t forget your suffering people forever.
20Remember your covenant promises, for the land is full of darkness and violence! 21Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again. Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.
22Arise, O God, and defend your cause. Remember how these fools insult you all day long. 23Don’t overlook what your enemies have said or their growing uproar.
King James Version

1Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
2Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
3Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
4Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
5A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
6But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
7They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
8They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
9We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
10O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
11Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
12For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
16The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
17Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
18Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
19O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
20Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
21O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
22Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
23Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.
New King James Version

1{A Contemplation of Asaph.} O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? 2Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed— This Mount Zion where You have dwelt. 3Lift 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. 5They seem like men who lift up Axes among the thick trees. 6And now they break down its carved work, all at once, With axes and hammers. 7They 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. 9We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet; Nor is there any among us who knows how long. 10O 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. 12For 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. 14You 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. 16The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun. 17You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter. 18Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord, And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name. 19Oh, 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. 21Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your name. 22Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily. 23Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.

What does Psalm chapter 74 mean?

Asaph is the name of a musician who lived in the same era as king David (1 Chronicles 6:39). However, this psalm appears to refer to the Babylonian devastation of 586 BC; that invasion destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. This event happened centuries after David. That this song is labeled "of Asaph" may suggest that it was written in his style. It may even have been recorded by one of Asaph's descendants who shared his name. The passage is called a maskiyl: the term implies a reflective, somber song, or a skillful play of instruments (Psalm 32:1; 52:1; 89:1).

The song begins with laments: a series of mourning, grieving statements. Another Old Testament book is so filled with these statements that it was named "Lamentations." The psalmist's grief begins with a sense that God has abandoned the nation of Israel. Mount Zion was the location of Jerusalem, and of the temple. For an enemy to conquer and shatter such a holy place would have been devastating to the people. Like men cutting down trees, the invading Babylonians brought the temple itself down (Psalm 74:1–8).

Also painful is that the nation lacks a spiritual mentor. Many eras in Israel's history were tied to the ministry of a prophet or prophets. These include men like Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, and Elisha. Here, the psalmist indicates that God seems to be silent. No one is speaking God's words. No one is explaining how long this terrible time will last. In these moments of tragedy, the psalmist feels as if the Lord is completely abandoning Israel (Psalm 74:9–11).

However, this is only a temporary feeling. Much like another psalm associated with Asaph (Psalm 73:2–3, 15–18), this one recognizes that God is still God. He is the hope of humanity: the all-powerful, all-sovereign Creator. By repeating a list of God's past actions and His powers, the psalmist reassures himself that the Lord hasn't been defeated (Psalm 74:12–17).

This leads to a more confident prayer that God will quickly defeat these enemies. This includes a mention of the Lord's covenant with Israel (Exodus 34:27). This doesn't suggest that God has stopped knowing that this covenant exists. Instead, the psalmist is asking God to do what He has already promised. This, also, is a form of self-reassurance. By crying out to the Lord about the wickedness of His enemies, and His vows to His chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6), the psalmist is also reminding himself of God's ultimate control over all things (Psalm 74:18–23).
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