Psalms - Chapter 73

Passage

Understanding for Asaph. O God, why have you cast us off to the end: why is your wrath enkindled against the sheep of your pasture? Remember your congregation, which you have possessed from the beginning. The sceptre of your inheritance which you have redeemed: mount Sion in which you have dwelt. Lift up your hands against their pride to the end; see what things the enemy has done wickedly in the sanctuary. And they that hate you have made their boasts, in the midst of your solemnity. They have set up their ensigns for signs, And they knew not both in the going out and on the highest top. As with axes in a wood of trees, They have cut down at once the gates thereof, with axe and hatchet they have brought it down. They have set fire to your sanctuary: they have defiled the dwelling place of your name on the earth. They said in their heart, the whole kindred of them together: Let us abolish all the festival days of God from the land. Our signs we have not seen, there is now no prophet: and he will know us no more. How long, O God, shall the enemy reproach: is the adversary to provoke your name for ever? Why do you turn away your hand: and your right hand out of the midst of your bosom for ever? But God is our king before ages: he has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. You by your strength did make the sea firm: you did crush the heads of the dragons in the waters. You have broken the heads of the dragon: you have given him to be meat for the people of the Ethiopians. You have broken up the fountains and the torrents: you have dried up the Ethan rivers. Yours is the day, and yours is the night: you have made the morning light and the sun. You have made all the borders of the earth: the summer and the spring were formed by you. Remember this, the enemy has reproached the Lord: and a foolish people has provoked your name. Deliver not up to beasts the souls that confess to you: and forget not to the end the souls of your poor. Have regard to your covenant: for they that are the obscure of the earth have been filled with dwellings of iniquity. Let not the humble be turned away with confusion: the poor and needy shall praise your name. Arise, O God, judge your own cause: remember your reproaches with which the foolish man has reproached you all the day. Forget not the voices of your enemies: the pride of them that hate you ascends continually.