Psalms 74

1O God, why have You left us? Will You always stay angry with us? We are your sheep, your people.

2Please don’t forget the people you bought so long ago. You have saved us to be your people. Don’t forget Mount Zion, the place where you lived.

3God, come walk through these ancient ruins. The enemies have destroyed everything in your temple.

4The enemy shouted their war cries in the Temple. They put up their flags there to show they had won the war.

5They came with their axes like men who cut down the trees in a forest.

6They broke and cut down all the beautiful carved woodwork in your house with axes and hammers.

7They burnt your temple down to the ground. It was built to honor your name, but they pulled it down to the ground.

8They said to themselves We will destroy them. They burnt down all the places where God appeared to people, where we worshipped You in the land.

9We do not see your miracles. There is no longer any prophet to guide us. Nor does any among us know for how long.

10God, how much longer will the enemy make fun of us? Will you let them insult your name forever?

11Why won’t you help us? Use your power to defeat our enemies!

12God, You have been our King from long ago. You, God are the One who saves people everywhere on earth.

13O God, You are so strong that You broke the sea in 2 with your power. You broke off the heads of the sea monsters.

14You were the One who trampled the heads of the sea serpent. and You gave it to all the fish in the sea to eat.

15You were the One who made the fountains and rivers flow, and You were the One who made the rivers dry again, where there had always been water.

16The day and the night belong to You. You were the One who put the sun and moon in their places.

17You were the One who said where the borders of each land must be. You made summer and winter.

18Lord, remember, the enemy insulted you! Those foolish people hate your name!

19Don’t give us to those people. Don’t give your doves to those wild animals. Don’t forget us We can not help ourselves.

20Remember the agreement you gave us, because violence fills every dark place in this land.

21Your people were treated badly. Don’t let them be hurt anymore. Help the poor and weak people so that they will praise your name.

22O God, please do something and defend your name. Remember the fools man that challenged you.

23Don’t forget the shouts of your enemies. They insulted you again and again.