Psalm 74

International Children’s Bible

⁴ Those who were against you shouted in your meeting place.
    They 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 have saved this country.
¹³ You split open the sea by your power.
    You broke the heads of the sea monster.
¹⁴ You smashed the heads of the monster Leviathan.
    You gave him to the desert creatures as food.
¹⁵ You opened up the springs and streams.
    And you made the rivers run dry.
¹⁶ Both the day and the night are yours.
    You made the sun and the moon.
¹⁷ You made all the limits on the earth.
    You created summer and winter.

¹⁸ Lord, remember how the enemy insulted you.
    Remember how those foolish people turned away from 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.
    The poor and helpless people praise you.

²² God, come 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.