Psalm 74-76

Easy-to-Read Version

⁴ The enemy shouted their war cries in the Temple.
    They put up their flags there to show they had won the war.
⁵ Their soldiers attacked the doors,
    like workmen chopping down trees.
⁶ Using axes and hatchets,
    they smashed the carved panels inside.
⁷ They burned down your Holy Place.
    It was built to honor your name,
    but they pulled it down to the ground.
⁸ The enemy decided to crush us completely.
    They burned every holy place^[a] in the country.
⁹ We do not see any of our signs.^[b]
    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 us?
    Will you let them insult your name forever?
¹¹ Why won’t you help us?
    Use your power to defeat our enemies!
¹² God, you have been our King for a long time.
    You have saved us many times on this earth.
¹³ With your great power you split open the sea
    and broke the heads of the sea monster.
¹⁴ Yes, you smashed the heads of Leviathan^[c]
    and left his body for animals to eat.
¹⁵ You make the springs and rivers flow,
    and you make the rivers dry up.
¹⁶ You control the day and the night.
    You made the sun and the moon.
¹⁷ You set the limits for everything on earth.
    And you created summer and winter.
¹⁸ Lord, remember, the enemy insulted you!
    Those foolish people hate your name!
¹⁹ Don’t give us like a helpless dove to those wild animals.
    Never forget your poor, suffering people.
²⁰ Remember the agreement you gave us,
    because violence fills every dark place in this land.
²¹ Your people were treated badly.
    Don’t let them be hurt anymore.
    Let your poor, helpless people praise you.
²² God, get up and defend yourself!
    Remember, those fools challenged you.
²³ Don’t forget the shouts of your enemies.
    They insulted you again and again.

² God says, “I have chosen a time for judgment,
    and I will judge fairly.
³ The earth and all its people may shake,
    but I am the one who keeps it steady. Selah

⁴ “To those who are proud I say, ‘Stop your boasting.’
    I warn the wicked, ‘Don’t brag about how strong you are.
⁵ Don’t be so sure that you will win.
    Don’t boast that victory is yours!’”

⁶ There is no power on earth
    that can make a person important.^[e]
7 God is the judge.
    He decides who will be important.
    He lifts one person up and brings another down.
⁸ The Lord has a cup in his hand.
    It is filled with the poisoned wine of his anger.
He will pour out this wine,
    and the wicked will drink it to the last drop.
⁹ I will always tell people how great God is.
    I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.
¹⁰ God says, “I will take away any power the wicked have
    and give it to those who are good.”

⁴ God, you are glorious coming back
    from the hills where you defeated your enemies.
⁵ They thought they were strong, but now they lie dead in the fields.
    Their bodies are stripped of all they owned.
    They could not defend themselves.^[g]
6 The God of Jacob shouted at them,
    and their army of chariots and horses fell dead.
⁷ God, you are awesome!
    No one can stand against you when you are angry.
^8-9 You stood as judge and announced your decision.
    You saved the humble people of the land.
From heaven you gave the decision,
    and the whole earth was silent and afraid.
¹⁰ Even human anger can bring you honor
    when you use it to punish your enemies.^[h]

¹¹ People, you made promises to the Lord your God.
    Now give him what you promised.
People everywhere fear and respect God,
    and they will bring gifts to him.
¹² God defeats great leaders;
    all the kings on earth fear him.