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 for ever.
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.