Psalms 74:1-8

¹A psalm (maskil) of Asaph. God, why have you rejected us? Is it forever? Why does your anger burn so hot against the sheep of your own field?

²Remember the people you made your own long ago, the tribe you redeemed and made your own. Remember too Mount Zion, the place where you live.

³Come and walk through the complete devastation. The enemy has totally destroyed your Temple.

⁴The enemy shouted in triumph right where you met with us. There they set up their war banners as signs of their victory.

⁵They acted like men chopping down a forest with axes.

⁶With axes and hammers they smashed in the carved wooden panels.

⁷Then they set fire to your Temple, burning it to the ground. They defiled the place where you live, the place that bears your name.

⁸They said to themselves, “Let's destroy it all!” So they burned down every place where God was worshiped throughout the land.