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1God, why have you rejected us? Is it forever? Why does your anger burn so hot against the sheep of your own field?
2Remember the people you made your own long ago, the tribe you redeemed and made your own. Remember too Mount Zion, the place where you live.
3Come and walk through the complete devastation. The enemy has totally destroyed your Temple.[#74:3. Of Jerusalem.]
4The enemy shouted in triumph right where you met with us. There they set up their war banners as signs of their victory.[#74:4. Referring to the Temple.]
5They acted like men chopping down a forest with axes.
6With axes and hammers they smashed in the carved wooden panels.
7Then they set fire to your Temple, burning it to the ground. They defiled the place where you live, the place that bears your name.
8They said to themselves, “Let's destroy it all!” So they burned down every place where God was worshiped throughout the land.
9We no longer see any signs. There are no prophets left. And no one among us knows how long this will last.[#74:9. Generally taken to mean miraculous signs from God.]
10How long will the enemy ridicule you, God? Will they insult your character forever?[#74:10. Literally, “name.”]
11Why do you hold back from doing something? Take action and destroy them![#74:11. The Hebrew imagery here needs some interpretation. Literally, “Why do you hold back your hand? And your right hand from your bosom consume.”]
12But you, God, are our king from long ago. You have saved us many times in the land.[#74:12 Hebrew has “my.”]
13You were the one who split apart the sea by your strength; you broke the heads of the sea monsters.[#74:13. The personal pronoun is emphasized here and in subsequent verses. It may be to identify that it was the true God of Creation who did these things, in contrast to similar stories that gave credit to pagan gods.]
14You were the one who crushed the heads of Leviathan, and you gave its body to the desert animals to eat.[#74:14. A sea monster also mentioned in Job.]
15You were the one who made springs and rivers flow with water. You made permanent rivers dry up.
16You created the day, and also the night; you made the moon and the sun.[#74:16. Literally, “luminary,” this may also include light from the stars.]
17You set the boundaries of the earth; you made summer and winter.[#74:17. See Genesis 1:9-10.]
18So keep in mind how the enemy ridiculed you, Lord, and how irreverent people insulted your reputation.
19Don't let wild animals kill your turtledoves! Don't abandon your people forever![#74:19. The people of Israel are compared to doves in their meekness and inability to defend themselves.]
20Remember your promises in the agreement, because the land is full of dark places and violence.[#74:20. Literally, “covenant.”]
21Don't let those who suffer be mistreated again. Let the poor and needy praise you for you who are.
22Stand up, God, and plead your case. Don't forget how these foolish people insulted you all the time.
23Don't ignore what your enemies have said, for their loud accusations against you are getting worse and worse!