Psalms 74

1 Why have You [completely, utterly] rejected [cast off, abandoned] us forever [for perpetuity, always], O God [Elohim, the supreme One]? Why does Your [divine, holy] anger [wrath, fury] smolder [burn, smoke] against the sheep [flock, people] of Your [divine, pastoral] pasture [care, guardianship]? word study 2 Remember [to recall, to mark] Your congregation [assembly, gathering], which You purchased [acquired, bought] long ago [of old, in the past] and redeemed [bought back, freed] as the tribe [family, clan] of Your inheritance [possession, heritage]— Mount [hill, mountain] Zion [the city of God, Jerusalem] where You dwell [reside, live]. word study 3 Turn Your steps [lift up Your feet, come and walk] to the everlasting [perpetual, forever] ruins [desolations, complete destruction], to everything [all, the whole] in the sanctuary [Holy Place, sacred temple] the enemy [adversary, one who hates] has destroyed [done wickedly, shattered into pieces]. word study 4 Your foes [adversaries, enemies] have roared [like lions, shouted triumphantly] within Your meeting place [sacred assembly, appointed time]; they have unfurled [set up, erected] their banners [ensigns, standards] as signs [miraculous tokens, beacons], word study 5 like men [chopping down] wielding axes in a thicket [of dense trees, a small group of trees or bushes] of trees [strong and firm, like a wooden plank] word study 6 and smashing [breaking down, demolishing] all the carvings [engravings, intricate designs] with hatchets [axes, heavy tools] and picks [hammers, crushing instruments]. word study 7 They have burned [set on fire, sent into flames] Your sanctuary [holy place, temple] to the ground; they have defiled [profaned, polluted] the dwelling place [tabernacle, sacred space] of Your Name [Your identity, reputation]. word study 8 They said [to themselves, in their minds] in their hearts [inner being, will, and intellect], “We will crush [oppress, destroy] them completely [altogether, utterly].” They burned down [set on fire, destroyed] every place [meeting place, synagogue] where God [Elohim, the supreme deity] met us [assembled, gathered] in the land [country, territory]. word study 9 There are no [visible, miraculous] signs [beacons or wonders] for us to see [perceive, discern]. There is no longer [still, any more] any prophet [one who speaks for God]. And none of us knows [is aware, has understanding] how long [till, until what time] this will last [continue, endure]. word study 10 How long [till when], O God [Elohim, the supreme Deity], will the enemy [adversary, one who opposes] taunt [reproach, blaspheme] You? Will the foe [hater, one who despises] revile [spurn, scorn] Your name [identity, character] forever [for perpetuity, everlastingness]? word study 11 Why do You withdraw [hold back, turn away] Your strong [powerful, mighty] right hand [the right hand or side; the south]? Stretch it out [extend, reach forth] to destroy [consume, bring to an end] them [your enemies, those who oppose you]! word study 12 Yet God [Elohim, the one supreme God] is my King [ruler, sovereign] from ancient times [of old, from the past], working [doing, accomplishing] salvation [deliverance, victory] on [in the midst of, throughout] the earth [land, world]. word study 13 You [the Almighty] divided the sea [a large body of water] by Your strength [power, might, boldness]; You smashed [broke, shattered] the heads [the topmost part of the body] of the dragons [sea-monsters, serpents] of the sea [the deep, the ocean]; word study 14 You [the Almighty, all-powerful] crushed [to break or shatter, as in a great victory] the heads [the topmost part of the body] of Leviathan [a massive sea creature]; You fed [to give as food, to provide sustenance] him [Leviathan, the sea monster] to the creatures [wild beasts, desert dwellers] of the desert [wilderness, a desolate place]. word study 15 You [the Lord, Almighty] broke open [to cleave, split apart] the fountain [spring, source of water] and the flood [mighty river, overflowing stream]; You dried up [to wither, cause to perish] the ever-flowing [perennial, strong] rivers [a flood]. word study 16 The day [24-hour period, a space of time] is Yours, and also [in addition, furthermore] the night [time of darkness, adversity]; You [the Creator, Almighty] established [set up, appointed] the moon [the lunar body] and the sun [the celestial body, a source of light]. word study 17 You [the Creator] set all [every, entire] the boundaries [borders, limits] of the earth [land, ground]; You made [formed, shaped] the summer [harvest season] and winter [autumn, harvest time]. word study 18 Remember [to recall, to mark] how the enemy [adversary, one who hates] has mocked [taunted, reproached] You, O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], how a foolish [stupid, wicked] people [nation, group] has spurned [scorned, despised] Your name [identity, honor, character]. word study 19 Do not [never, under no circumstances] deliver the soul [the essence of a person] of Your dove [turtledove] to beasts [wild animals, the multitude of the wicked]; do not [never, let it not be] forget the lives [the congregation, the poor ones] of Your afflicted [weak, humble, or depressed ones] forever [for perpetuity, everlasting]. word study 20 Consider [have respect unto, look attentively to] Your covenant [promise, agreement], for haunts [habitations, dark places] of violence [cruelty, injustice] fill the dark [hidden, secret] places of the land [earth, territory]. word study 21 Do not [let it not be] let the oppressed [crushed, afflicted] retreat [return, turn back] in shame [be humiliated, insulted]; may the poor [lowly, needy] and needy [those in need of help] praise [celebrate, shine forth] Your name [Your identity, honor, and character]. word study 22 Rise up [arise, stand up], O God [Elohim, the supreme Judge]; defend [plead, maintain] Your cause [right, strife]! Remember [to recall, mark] how the fool [foolish, wicked] mocks [reproacheth, insults] You all [every, continually] day long [daily, throughout the day]. word study 23 Do not [forget, be oblivious to] disregard the clamor [voice, outcry] of Your adversaries [enemies, those who oppose], the uproar [roar, tumult] of Your enemies [those who rise against You] that ascends [rises, goes up] continually [constantly, every day]. word study