Psalm 74 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Psalm 74 meaning explained in AI Summary

Psalm 74 is a lament, a cry for help in a time of national disaster and religious persecution. The psalmist, likely representing the people of Israel, pours out their anguish and confusion to God, reminding Him of His past faithfulness while pleading for His intervention in their present suffering.

of the key themes:

1. Devastation and Desecration (verses 1-11):

* The psalmist describes the destruction of their land and temple, likely referring to the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem.

* The enemies are portrayed as blasphemous and cruel, mocking God and defiling His sanctuary.

* There's a sense of abandonment and questioning why God seems silent and inactive.

2. Remembering God's Power (verses 12-17):

* The psalm shifts to recount God's mighty acts of deliverance in the past, particularly the Exodus from Egypt.

* This serves as a reminder of God's power and faithfulness, even when it seems He's distant.

3. Plea for Deliverance (verses 18-23):

* The psalmist passionately pleads with God to remember His covenant and intervene.

* They highlight the suffering of the innocent and the arrogance of the wicked.

* The plea emphasizes the enemies' blasphemy against God, not just their aggression against Israel.

Overall Message:

Psalm 74 reflects the raw emotions of a community facing devastation and questioning God's presence. It's a reminder that even in the darkest times, we can cry out to God, reminding Him of His promises and pleading for His mercy. The psalm doesn't offer easy answers but expresses the complex human experience of faith amidst suffering. It encourages us to hold onto hope and trust in God's ultimate justice and redemption, even when the present seems bleak.

Psalm 74 bible study ai commentary

Psalm 74 is a national lament, a raw and desperate cry to God in the face of catastrophic destruction and divine silence. It begins with the agonizing question of "why," graphically details the desecration of God's sanctuary, then pivots to remember God's primordial power over creation as the basis for a renewed plea. The core of the psalm is a powerful argument: the God who effortlessly subdued cosmic chaos (Leviathan, the sea) can and must act to defend His own name and covenant people from their earthly foes.

Psalm 74 context

This psalm most likely originates from the aftermath of the destruction of the First Temple (Solomon's Temple) and Jerusalem by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. This event was the singular greatest theological and national crisis in pre-Christian Israel. It marked the end of the Davidic monarchy, the cessation of the sacrificial system, and the beginning of the Babylonian Exile. The psalmist's description of axes, fire, and the enemy setting up their own standards in the holy place aligns perfectly with the historical accounts in 2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 52. The despair is heightened by a perceived silence from God—no miracles, no prophets—creating a feeling of utter abandonment.

Psalm 74:1

A Maskil of Asaph. O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?

In-depth-analysis

Maskil: A title for 13 psalms, likely meaning a skillful or contemplative song, intended for instruction.
"Why... forever?": The psalm opens with the fundamental cry of lament. The word "forever" (lanesah) expresses the depth of despair and the seeming permanence of the disaster, not a statement of theological certainty.
"Anger smolder": The imagery portrays God's wrath not as a quick flare-up but as a continuous, burning fire.
"Sheep of your pasture": This metaphor creates a sharp, painful irony. A shepherd's role is to protect, yet this shepherd's anger is turned against his own flock, who are inherently helpless.

Bible references

Psa 44:23-24: "Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? ...Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction...?" (A similar national lament questioning God's inaction).
Isa 49:14: "But Zion said, 'The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.'" (The feeling of abandonment by God's covenant people).
Lam 5:20-22: "Why do you forget us forever...? For you have utterly rejected us, and you are exceedingly angry with us." (A near-identical sentiment from the context of Jerusalem's fall).

Cross references

Jer 23:1 (promise to gather pasture sheep); Jn 10:11 (Jesus the Good Shepherd); Psa 80:1 (Shepherd of Israel); Heb 12:5-6 (discipline not rejection).

Psalm 74:2

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!

In-depth-analysis

Remember: This is not a request to jog God's memory, but a plea for Him to act upon His prior commitments.
Purchased (qanita) / Redeemed (ga'alta): These are exodus terms. God "purchased" Israel through the Passover and "redeemed" them from slavery. The psalmist grounds his appeal in God's foundational saving act.
Tribe of your heritage: Israel is God's unique inheritance, His special possession among all nations.
Mount Zion: The specific, physical place where God chose to place His name and presence. Its desolation is a direct affront to God's choice.

Bible references

Exo 15:16-17: "...the people whom you have purchased. You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O LORD, which you have made for your abode..." (Directly links purchase/redemption with bringing Israel to God's dwelling place).
Deut 9:29: "For they are your people and your heritage, whom you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm." (Affirms Israel as God's heritage, won by His power).

Cross references

Deut 32:9 (The Lord's portion); Acts 20:28 (church purchased with his blood); Psa 132:13-14 (Lord has chosen Zion); 1 Pet 2:9 (a chosen race, a royal priesthood).

Psalm 74:3

Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary.

In-depth-analysis

Direct your steps: An urgent, almost demanding plea for God to come and inspect the damage firsthand. It's a cry for divine visitation.
Perpetual ruins: The destruction feels absolute and final. The psalmist sees no hope of rebuilding.
Destroyed everything: Emphasizes the totality of the desecration. Nothing holy was spared.

Bible references

Lam 2:5-7: "The Lord has become like an enemy... he has done violence to his tabernacle... The Lord has spurned his altar, disowned his sanctuary." (A graphic parallel from Jeremiah's lamentations).
Mic 3:12: "Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height." (Prophetic warning of this exact event).

Cross references

Dan 9:17 (prayer for God's face to shine on desolate sanctuary); Neh 2:17 (Nehemiah's sorrow over Jerusalem's ruins).

Psalm 74:4-7

⁴ Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place; they set up their own signs for signs. ⁵ They were like those who swing axes in a forest of trees. ⁶ And then all its carved work they broke down with hatchets and hammers. ⁷ They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name to the ground.

In-depth-analysis

Roared (sha'agu): A bestial sound, connoting wild, savage animals. It contrasts horribly with the sacred songs that belong in God’s "meeting place" (mo'ed).
Signs for signs ('othotham 'othoth): The enemy's military banners and symbols have replaced God's signs (the Ark, the menorah, etc.). It’s a visual representation of a hostile takeover.
Axemen: The comparison to woodsmen highlights the brute, artless violence used against the intricate, beautiful, and holy carved work of the Temple.
Fire... to the ground: Fire was the ultimate tool of conquest and purification for invaders. To burn God’s house and profane his Name "to the ground" signifies total humiliation and defeat.

Bible references

2 Kings 25:9: "And he burned the house of the LORD and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down." (The historical fulfillment).
Jer 52:13: "and burned the house of the LORD..." (The parallel account).
Matt 24:15: "...when you see the abomination of desolation... standing in the holy place..." (Jesus references a future desecration, showing the thematic continuation of sanctuary profanation).

Cross references

Dan 11:31 (abomination of desolation); Lam 1:10 (Gentiles entering the sanctuary); Psa 79:1 (A parallel psalm of destruction).

Psalm 74:8

They said in their hearts, "We will crush them completely." They burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

In-depth-analysis

"We will crush them completely": Reveals the enemy’s motive: not just military victory, but the complete eradication of Israel's identity and worship.
All the meeting places: Suggests the destruction was not limited to Jerusalem's Temple but extended to other regional centers of worship or instruction (perhaps early forms of synagogues or schools of the prophets). This signifies a systematic attempt to erase the worship of Yahweh.

Cross references

2 Chr 36:19 (all palaces burned); Jer 7:14 (warning God would destroy the Temple like Shiloh); Hos 2:11 (I will put an end to her festivals).

Psalm 74:9

We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is no one among us who knows how long.

In-depth-analysis

We do not see our signs: This is a key verse expressing a deep theological crisis. The "signs" ('othoth) are gone—not just the enemy’s signs (v.4) but God's. There are no miracles, no visible tokens of God’s presence or favor.
No longer any prophet: Perhaps the most devastating loss. Divine guidance has ceased. The heavens are silent. This reflects a reality during parts of the exile.
How long: The unanswered question that frames the entire lament. Without a prophet, even the timeframe of their suffering is unknown, making it feel infinite.

Bible references

1 Sam 3:1: "And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision." (Describes a previous era of divine silence).
Lam 2:9: "...Her king and her princes are among the nations; the law is no more, and her prophets find no vision from the LORD." (Directly states the loss of prophetic vision during the exile).
Amos 8:11: "'Behold, the days are coming,' declares the Lord GOD, 'when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread... but of hearing the words of the LORD.'" (A prophetic prediction of this spiritual state).

Cross references

Eze 7:26 (disaster upon disaster, vision from prophet will be lost); Prov 29:18 (where there is no vision, the people perish); Dan 12:6-7 (an angel asks "how long?").

Psalm 74:10-11

¹⁰ How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? ¹¹ Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!

In-depth-analysis

Scoff... revile your name: The focus shifts. The psalmist argues that the enemy’s mockery is not just against Israel, but against God Himself. This makes God's inaction an issue of His own reputation.
Hold back your hand: The plea becomes intensely physical. God's "right hand" is his symbol of power and action. The psalmist pictures God as holding His power in reserve, tucked into His robe, and begs Him to unleash it.

Bible references

Psa 89:50-51: "Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, how I bear in my heart the taunts of many peoples, with which your enemies mock, O LORD, with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed." (A similar plea based on the mocking of enemies).
Exo 15:6: "Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power; your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy." (Recalls God's definitive use of his right hand in the past).

Cross references

Isa 52:5 (my name is continually blasphemed); Isa 64:12 (Will you keep silent and afflict us so grievously?); Psa 44:23 (Awake!).

Psalm 74:12-14

¹² But God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. ¹³ You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. ¹⁴ You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.

In-depth-analysis

But God is my King: This is the psalm's turning point. The lament pivots to a declaration of faith, moving from the current disaster to God's eternal nature.
Divided the sea... sea monsters... Leviathan: This is a masterful appeal to God's power as Creator. It recalls the Red Sea crossing but uses mythological language common in the ancient world to do so.
- Leviathan (livyatan): A chaos-monster, known in Ugaritic myths as Lotan, the multi-headed sea dragon. The psalmist isn't affirming the myth; he's co-opting it.
- Crushed the heads (plural): Signifies the totality of the defeat over chaos.
- Food for creatures: Leviathan isn't just defeated; it is butchered and served as food. This is ultimate humiliation, showing God's effortless supremacy.

Bible references

Job 41:1-34: Describes Leviathan as a creature only God can master, reinforcing the theme of God's unique power.
Isa 27:1: "In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea." (An eschatological promise that God will again defeat this symbol of chaos).
Rev 12:3-9: A seven-headed dragon, symbolizing Satan, is defeated and thrown down, echoing this ancient imagery of God's victory over the multi-headed chaos monster.

Polemics

This section is a direct polemic against Canaanite and Babylonian creation epics. In the Babylonian Enuma Elish, the god Marduk battles the chaos-goddess Tiamat in a difficult struggle to create the cosmos. In Ugaritic myths, Baal struggles against the sea-god Yam and the monster Lotan. Psalm 74 portrays Yahweh’s victory not as a struggle, but as an effortless act of sovereign power. He doesn't fight chaos; he commands it.

Psalm 74:15-17

¹⁵ You split open springs and brooks; you dried up ever-flowing streams. ¹⁶ Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun. ¹⁷ You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.

In-depth-analysis

From defeating chaos, the psalm moves to God's ordering of the cosmos. God is not just a warrior but a sustainer.
Springs and brooks / dried up streams: Demonstrates God's control over water, a vital resource and a force of nature (referencing both the wilderness miracles and perhaps the crossing of the Jordan).
Day/night, lights/sun, boundaries, summer/winter: These pairs show God's sovereignty over time, space, and seasons. He set the created order in motion and maintains it. The argument is: if God maintains this vast cosmic order, surely He can intervene in this one national crisis.

Bible references

Gen 1:14-18: "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons...'" (The Genesis account of God establishing this order).
Jer 33:20: "Thus says the LORD: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night... then my covenant with David my servant may be broken..." (God uses the reliability of creation as a guarantee of His covenant promises).

Cross references

Gen 8:22 (seedtime and harvest shall not cease); Job 38:8-11 (God sets boundaries for the sea); Acts 17:26 (determined allotted periods and boundaries of their dwelling place).

Psalm 74:18-19

¹⁸ Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name. ¹⁹ Do not give the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever.

In-depth-analysis

Remember this: A return to the direct plea, but now fortified by the memory of God's creative power.
Foolish people ('am naval): "Foolish" in the Old Testament is not about intellect but moral and spiritual deficiency; one who denies God's authority.
Your dove: Israel is depicted as a helpless dove, a symbol of innocence and vulnerability, surrounded by predatory "wild beasts." This starkly contrasts the earlier "sheep" metaphor.
Your poor ('aniyyekha): A plea based on God’s stated commitment to defend the afflicted and downtrodden.

Bible references

Deut 32:6: "Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people?" (Moses uses the same term, am naval, to describe Israel when they turn from God).
Matt 10:16: "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (Jesus uses the "dove" imagery for his disciples' vulnerability).

Cross references

Psa 10:14 (God is helper of the fatherless); Psa 68:10 (God provides for the needy); Hos 7:11 (Ephraim is a dove, silly and without sense).

Psalm 74:20-21

²⁰ Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. ²¹ Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.

In-depth-analysis

Have regard for the covenant: This is the ultimate appeal. The psalmist grounds his plea not in Israel's worthiness, but in God's faithfulness to His own sworn promise (Abrahamic, Mosaic).
Dark places of the land: The breakdown of order has allowed violence (hamas) to flourish, turning the land lawless and dangerous.
Let not the downtrodden... in shame: If God fails to act, those who trusted in Him will be publicly humiliated.
Let the poor and needy praise your name: The desired outcome. Divine intervention will lead to renewed worship, which will vindicate both the faithful and God Himself.

Bible references

Gen 17:7: "And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you... to be God to you and to your offspring..." (The foundation of the covenant promise).
Lev 26:44-45: "Yet for all that... I will not spurn them... so as to break my covenant with them, for I am the LORD their God... I will remember for their sake the covenant with their forefathers..." (God’s own promise not to forget the covenant, even in judgment).

Cross references

Psa 113:7 (He raises the poor); Eze 7:23-24 (the land is full of bloody crimes and violence); Luke 1:52-53 (he has filled the hungry with good things).

Psalm 74:22-23

²² Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish man scoffs at you all the day! ²³ Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually.

In-depth-analysis

Arise, O God, defend your cause: The final, powerful summons. The psalmist fully identifies Israel's cause as God's cause. A defeat for Israel is a reproach to God.
Your cause: It is no longer just "our" cause, but God's. The issue is now His divine honor and reputation on the world stage.
Clamor... uproar (she'on): The psalm ends with the chaotic noise of the enemy continually ascending. This creates a tension, an unresolved chord. The uproar is rising, and the psalmist leaves it hanging, demanding God’s own response to break the noise and the silence.

Bible references

Psa 3:7: "Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God!" (The classic cry for divine intervention).
Isa 37:28-29: "I know your sitting down and your going out and coming in, and your raging against me... because your raging against me and your arrogance have come up to my ears, I will put my hook in your nose..." (God's response to the taunts of Sennacherib, showing he hears the "uproar").

Cross references

Num 10:35 (Arise O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered); Zec 2:8 (he who touches you touches the apple of his eye); Jude 1:9 (Michael did not dare rebuke Satan but said, "The Lord rebuke you!").

Psalm 74 analysis

Argument Structure: The psalm is a masterclass in theological argument, moving from a position of despairing lament (vv. 1-11) to a powerful confession of God's cosmic sovereignty (vv. 12-17), which then becomes the unshakable foundation for a renewed, confident plea (vv. 18-23).
Chaoskampf Motif: The central imagery of God crushing Leviathan is known as Chaoskampf (German for "struggle against chaos"). While Israel's neighbors saw creation as a genuine battle between rival gods, the Bible consistently uses this motif to show Yahweh's effortless and absolute power over all forces, cosmic or political. Babylon, like Leviathan, is just another chaos monster that God can humiliate.
The Name as Character: The psalm is profoundly concerned with God's "name." This is more than a title; it represents His character, reputation, and presence. The enemy's actions are a direct affront to His name, and the final plea is for God to act for His own name's sake, a theme central to prophets like Ezekiel (Eze 36:22).
From History to Cosmology and Back: The psalmist zooms out from his immediate historical crisis (the destruction of a building) to the grandest possible scale (the creation of the cosmos) and then zooms back in, applying that cosmic power to the specific historical need. This provides a paradigm for faith: when immediate circumstances seem hopeless, remember God's ultimate nature and power.

Psalm 74 summary

Psalm 74 is a national cry of despair over the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. The psalmist asks why God has abandoned His people, vividly describes the enemy's brutal desecration of the sanctuary, and laments the silence from God and His prophets. The psalm then pivots, anchoring its plea in a powerful hymn to God as the eternal King who created the world by effortlessly crushing chaos (Leviathan). On this basis of God’s supreme power over creation and His covenant faithfulness, the psalmist concludes with an urgent call for God to arise and defend His own cause and reputation from the enemy’s endless mockery.

Psalm 73 AI Psalm 75 AI

Psalm 74 AI Image Audio and Video

Psalm chapter 74 kjv

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

Psalm chapter 74 nkjv

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

Psalm chapter 74 niv

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

Psalm chapter 74 esv

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

Psalm chapter 74 nlt

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