Psalm 74

A Plea for God to Remember His Promises

A psalm*74: title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term. of Asaph.

1O 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,*74:2 Hebrew Mount Zion. 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*74:14 The identification of Leviathan is disputed, ranging from an earthly creature to a mythical sea monster in ancient literature.

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*74:16 Or moon; Hebrew reads light. 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.

Psalm 60

A Prayer for Victory over Israel’s Neighbors

For the choir director: A psalm*60: title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term. of David useful for teaching, regarding the time David fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and killed 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. To be sung to the tune “Lily of the Testimony.”

1You have rejected us, O God, and broken our defenses.

You have been angry with us; now restore us to your favor.

2You have shaken our land and split it open.

Seal the cracks, for the land trembles.

3You have been very hard on us,

making us drink wine that sent us reeling.

4But you have raised a banner for those who fear you—

a rallying point in the face of attack.

Interlude

5Now rescue your beloved people.

Answer and save us by your power.

6God has promised this by his holiness*60:6 Or in his sanctuary.:

“I will divide up Shechem with joy.

I will measure out the valley of Succoth.

7Gilead is mine,

and Manasseh, too.

Ephraim, my helmet, will produce my warriors,

and Judah, my scepter, will produce my kings.

8But Moab, my washbasin, will become my servant,

and I will wipe my feet on Edom

and shout in triumph over Philistia.”

9Who will bring me into the fortified city?

Who will bring me victory over Edom?

10Have you rejected us, O God?

Will you no longer march with our armies?

11Oh, please help us against our enemies,

for all human help is useless.

12With God’s help we will do mighty things,

for he will trample down our foes.