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This is a special song that Asaph wrote.

A prayer for our nation[a]

74 God, have you turned against us for ever?
    Why are you so angry with us?
We belong to you, so please take care of us,
    like a shepherd takes care of his sheep.
Remember that we are your people.
Long ago you chose us for yourself.
You rescued us from being slaves,
    so that we could be your special nation of people.[b]
So please think about us,
    as well as your home on Mount Zion.
Come and look at our buildings!
    Your enemies have completely destroyed them.
They have also destroyed everything that is in your temple.

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Footnotes

  1. 74:1 In 586 BC, the army of Babylon destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon. The writer of this psalm asks God why he has let this happen to his people, the Israelites.
  2. 74:2 This is when God led the Israelites out of Egypt where they had been slaves.

Psalm 74

A maskil[a] of Asaph.

O God, why have you rejected(A) us forever?(B)
    Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?(C)
Remember the nation you purchased(D) long ago,(E)
    the people of your inheritance,(F) whom you redeemed(G)
    Mount Zion,(H) where you dwelt.(I)
Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,(J)
    all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 74:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term