Tehillim 74

Orthodox Jewish Bible

74 (A Maskil of Asaph) O Elohim, why hast Thou cast us off lanetzach? Why doth Thine anger smoke against the tzon (sheep) of Thy mireh (pasture)?

² Remember Thy Edah (congregation), which Thou hast purchased of old; the shevet (tribe) of Thine nachalah, which Thou hast redeemed: this Har Tziyon, wherein Thou hast dwelt.

³ Lift up Thy footsteps unto the mashu’ot netzach (perpetual ruins); even all that the oyev hath done wickedly in the Kodesh [the Beis HaMikdash].

⁴ Thine enemies roar in the midst of Thy Mo’ed (place of meeting); they set up their banners for otot (signs, i.e., their heathen insignia).

⁵ It had been as though one lifted up kardumim (axes) upon the thicket of etz.

⁶ But now they break down the carved panels [of the Beis HaMikdash] at once with hammers and chisels.

⁷ They have set ablaze Thy Mikdash, burning it to the ground; they have brought chillul to the Mishkan Shemecha (the dwelling place of Thy Name).

⁸ They said in their hearts, Let us crush them altogether; they have burned up all the Mo’adei El in HaAretz.

⁹ We see not our otot (signs); there is no longer any navi; neither is there among us any that knoweth ad mah (until when).

¹⁰ O Elohim ad mosai, (how long) shall the adversary revile? Shall the oyev (enemy) blaspheme Thy Shem lanetzach (forever)?

¹¹ Why withdrawest Thou Thy Yad, even Thy Yamin (Right Hand)? Take it out of Thy Kheyk (bosom) and destroy [them].

¹² For Elohim is my Melech mikedem (from of old), working Yeshuah (salvation) in the midst of Ha’Aretz.

¹³ Thou didst divide the yam by Thy oz (power); Thou didst break the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.

¹⁴ Thou didst break the head of Leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be ma’akhal (food) to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

¹⁵ Thou didst break open the fountain and the flood; Thou driedst up mighty naharot (rivers).

¹⁶ The yom is Thine, the lailah also is Thine; Thou hast prepared the ma’ohr (luminary, moon) and the shemesh.

¹⁷ Thou hast set all the boundaries of Eretz; Thou hast made kayitz (summer) and choref (winter).

¹⁸ Remember this, that the oyev (enemy) hath reproached Hashem, and that the am naval (foolish people) have blasphemed Shimcha.

¹⁹ O deliver not the nefesh of Thy turtledove unto the wild beast; forget not the life of Thy aniyim (poor) lanetzach (forever).

²⁰ Have regard unto the Brit (covenant); for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of chamas.

²¹ O let not the oppressed return in shame; let the oni and evyon praise Thy Shem.

²² Arise, O Elohim, fight for Thine Own cause; remember how the naval (foolish man) revileth Thee kol hayom.

²³ Forget not the kol (voice) of Thine enemies, the tumult of those against Thee that rises up tamid (continually). [T.N. Cf Lk 2:23-24 and Ps 74:19 remembering that the turtledove was the sacrifice of the poor, which Moshiach would be, not a rich man but ani, according to Zech 9:9.]