Psalms 74; Psalms 75; Psalms 76; Psalms 77

Psalms 74

1 God, why have you rejected us for so long? Why are you angry with us, the sheep of your pasture?

2 Remember the people you bought long ago. You saved us, and we are your very own. After all, you live on Mount Zion.

3 Make your way through these old ruins; the enemy wrecked everything in the Temple.

4 Those who were against you shouted in your meeting place and raised their flags there.

5 They came with axes raised as if to cut down a forest of trees.

6 They smashed the carved panels with their axes and hatchets.

7 They burned your Temple to the ground; they have made the place where you live unclean.

8 They thought, "We will completely crush them!" They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.

9 We do not see any signs. There are no more prophets, and no one knows how long this will last.

10 God, how much longer will the enemy make fun of you? Will they insult you forever?

11 Why do you hold back your power? Bring your power out in the open and destroy them!

12 God, you have been our king for a long time. You bring salvation to the earth.

13 You split open the sea by your power and broke the heads of the sea monster.

14 You smashed the heads of the monster Leviathan and gave him to the desert creatures as food.

15 You opened up the springs and streams and made the flowing rivers run dry.

16 Both the day and the night are yours; you made the sun and the moon.

17 You set all the limits on the earth; you created summer and winter.

18 Lord, remember how the enemy insulted you. Remember how those foolish people made fun of you.

19 Do not give us, your doves, to those wild animals. Never forget your poor people.

20 Remember the agreement you made with us, because violence fills every dark corner of this land.

21 Do not let your suffering people be disgraced. Let the poor and helpless praise you.

22 God, arise and defend yourself. Remember the insults that come from those foolish people all day long.

23 Don't forget what your enemies said; don't forget their roar as they rise against you always.

Psalms 75

1 God, we thank you; we thank you because you are near. We tell about the miracles you do.

2 You say, "I set the time for trial, and I will judge fairly.

3 The earth with all its people may shake, but I am the one who holds it steady. Selah

4 I say to those who are proud, 'Don't brag,' and to the wicked, 'Don't show your power.

5 Don't try to use your power against heaven. Don't be stubborn.'"

6 No one from the east or the west or the desert can judge you.

7 God is the judge; he judges one person as guilty and another as innocent.

8 The Lord holds a cup of anger in his hand; it is full of wine mixed with spices. He pours it out even to the last drop, and the wicked drink it all.

9 I will tell about this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.

10 He will take all power away from the wicked, but the power of good people will grow.

Psalms 76

1 People in Judah know God; his fame is great in Israel.

2 His Tent is in Jerusalem; his home is on Mount Zion.

3 There God broke the flaming arrows, the shields, the swords, and the weapons of war.Selah

4 God, how wonderful you are! You are more splendid than the hills full of animals.

5 The brave soldiers were stripped as they lay asleep in death. Not one warrior had the strength to stop it.

6 God of Jacob, when you spoke strongly, horses and riders fell dead.

7 You are feared; no one can stand against you when you are angry.

8 From heaven you gave the decision, and the earth was afraid and silent.

9 God, you stood up to judge and to save the needy people of the earth.Selah

10 People praise you for your anger against evil. Those who live through your anger are stopped from doing more evil.

11 Make and keep your promises to the Lord your God. From all around, gifts should come to the God we worship.

12 God breaks the spirits of great leaders; the kings on earth fear him.

Psalms 77

1 I cry out to God; I call to God, and he will hear me.

2 I look for the Lord on the day of trouble. All night long I reach out my hands, but I cannot be comforted.

3 When I remember God, I become upset; when I think, I become afraid.Selah

4 You keep my eyes from closing. I am too upset to say anything.

5 I keep thinking about the old days, the years of long ago.

6 At night I remember my songs. I think and I ask myself:

7 "Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he never be kind to us again?

8 Is his love gone forever? Has he stopped speaking for all time?

9 Has God forgotten mercy? Is he too angry to pity us?"Selah

10 Then I say "This is what makes me sad: For years the power of God Most High was with us."

11 I remember what the Lord did; I remember the miracles you did long ago.

12 I think about all the things you did and consider your deeds.

13 God, your ways are holy. No god is as great as our God.

14 You are the God who does miracles; you have shown people your power.

15 By your power you have saved your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.Selah

16 God, the waters saw you; they saw you and became afraid; the deep waters shook with fear.

17 The clouds poured down their rain. The sky thundered. Your lightning flashed back and forth like arrows.

18 Your thunder sounded in the whirlwind. Lightning lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.

19 You made a way through the sea and paths through the deep waters, but your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people like a flock by using Moses and Aaron. A maskil of Asaph.