Psalm 74

¹ O GOD, wherefore art thou absent from us so long * why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?

² O think upon thy congregation * whom thou hast purchased and redeemed of old.

³ Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance * and mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

⁴ Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy * which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.

⁵ Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations * and set up their banners for tokens.

⁶ He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees * was known to bring it to an excellent work.

⁷ But now they break down all the carved work thereof * with axes and hammers.

⁸ They have set fire upon thy holy places * and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.

⁹ Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havock of them altogether * thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.

¹⁰ We see not our tokens, there is not one prophet more * no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.

¹¹ O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour * how long shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name, for ever?

¹² Why withdrawest thou thy hand * why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy?

¹³ For God is my King of old * the help that is done upon earth he doeth it himself.

¹⁴ Thou didst divide the sea through thy power * thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.

¹⁵ Thou smotest the heads of Leviathan in pieces * and gavest him to be meat for the people in the wilderness.

¹⁶ Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks * thou driedst up mighty waters.

¹⁷ The day is thine, and the night is thine * thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

¹⁸ Thou hast set all the borders of the earth * thou hast made summer and winter.

¹⁹ Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy hath rebuked * and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.

²⁰ 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.

²¹ Look upon the covenant * for all the earth is full of darkness and cruel habitations.

²² O let not the simple go away ashamed * but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name.

²³ Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause * remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.

²⁴ Forget not the voice of thine enemies * the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.