74 A song[fn] by Asaf.

74 Why God, have you rejected us forever?

Why are you so angry at the sheep in your pasture?

2 Remember your congregation that you aquired in times past,

which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance.

This Mt. Tsiyyon (Zion), where you’ve lived.

3 Take your feet to see the perpetual ruins.

All the damage that the enemy has done to the sanctuary.

4 Your adversaries have roared in the middle of your meeting place.

They’ve set up their banners as signs.

5 They acted like men chopping down a forest with axes.

6 And now, with axe and hammers,

they smash up all its carved panels.

7 They have burnt your sanctuary to the ground.

They have profaned the place where your name is attached.

8 They said in their hearts, “We’ll totally crush them.”

They’ve burnt all of the meeting places of God in the country.

9 There aren’t any signs for us to watch.

There’s no longer any prophet,

≈and there’s no one among us who knows how long this will last.

10 How much longer, God, will the enemy be able to mock for?

≈Will the enemy be able to treat your name with contempt forever?

11 Why do you withdraw your hand of power?

Take it out of your pocket and destroy them.

12 Yet God is my king from times past,

rescuing us in a range of locations.

13 You divided the sea by your strength.

≈You smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.

14 You crushed the sea dragon’s heads.[ref]

You fed him to those living in the wilderness.

15 You broke open springs and streams.

You dried up flowing rivers.

16 The day is yours, and the night is also yours.

You set the sun and moon in place.

17 You have set all the borders of the earth.

You have made summer and winter.

18 Call to mind how the enemy hurled insults at you, Yahweh,

and that a foolish nation has belittled your name.

19 Don’t just allow a wild animal to take your dove’s life.

Don’t forget the life of your oppressed people forever.

20 Remember your promises as part of our agreement,

because the dark regions of the country are full of places of violence.

21 Don’t let the oppressed be turned back in shame.

Let the poor and oppressed have good reason to praise you.

22 Take action, God; defend your own honour.

Take notice of how fools insult you all day long.

23 Don’t forget the voice of your enemies

or the uproar of those who continually defy you.