Psalm 74. Ut quid, Deus?
O GOD, wherefore art thou absent from us so long? * why is thy
wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?
2 O think upon thy congregation, * whom thou hast purchased,
and redeemed of old.
3 Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance, * and Mount Sion,
wherein thou hast dwelt.
4 Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy,
* which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.
5 Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations, *
and set up their banners for tokens.
6 He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees, * was known
to bring it to an excellent work.
7 But now they break down all the carved work thereof * with
axes and hammers.
8 They have set fire upon thy holy places, * and have defiled
the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.
9 Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havoc of them altogether:
* thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.
10 We see not our tokens; there is not one prophet more; * no,
not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.
11 O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour? * shall
the enemy blaspheme thy Name for ever?
12 Why withdrawest thou thy hand? * why pluckest thou not thy
right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy?
13 For God is my King of old; * the help that is done upon earth,
he doeth it himself.
14 Thou didst divide the sea through thy power; * thou brakest
the heads of the dragons in the waters.
15 Thou smotest the heads of leviathan in pieces, * and gavest
him to be meat for the people of the wilderness.
16 Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks;
* thou driedst up mighty waters.
17 The day is thine, and the night is thine; * thou hast prepared
the light and the sun.
18 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; * thou hast made
summer and winter.
19 Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy hath rebuked; * and how
the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.
20 O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude
of the enemies; * and forget not the congregation of the poor
21 Look upon the covenant; * for all the earth is full of darkness
and cruel habitations.
22 O let not the simple go away ashamed; * but let the poor and
needy give praise unto thy Name.
23 Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause; * remember how the
foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.
24 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: * the presumption of
them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.