# Psalm 74 (New King James Version)
A Plea for Relief from Oppressors

##### Chapter 74
###### 1 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.