Why Have You Rejected Us?
Psalm 74 summary: what it means
Psalm 74 is a lament over a destroyed sanctuary. It opens by asking why God has rejected his people forever, and asks him to remember the congregation he redeemed and Mount Zion where he lived. Then it describes the damage: enemies roaring in the assembly, axes and hammers breaking the carved work, the sanctuary burned to the ground, and every place of worship in the land burned. There are no signs, no prophet, and no one knows how long.
In the middle, the psalm stops to remember who God is. He is King of old, who divided the sea, broke the heads of Leviathan, owns the day and the night, prepared the light and the sun, set the boundaries of the earth and made summer and winter. From that memory the psalm returns to pleading: remember the mocking enemy, honour your covenant, do not forget your poor, and arise to plead your own cause.
Psalm 74: Why Have You Rejected Us?
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-74
Psalm 74 commentary: explained verse by verse
God, why have you rejected us forever?Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
The psalm opens with two questions: why have you rejected us forever, and why does your anger smoulder against the sheep of your pasture. The people call themselves God's own flock. The complaint is addressed straight to God.
Also read Psalm 60:10, Psalm 60:1, Psalm 42:11, Ezekiel 34:8
Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old,which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance:Mount Zion, in which you have lived.
Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
The speaker asks God to remember the congregation he purchased and redeemed long ago, and Mount Zion where he lived. The appeal is to God's own history with his people. What is at stake is his own inheritance.
Also read Deuteronomy 32:9, Psalm 135:4, Deuteronomy 9:29, Isaiah 51:11
Lift up your feet to the perpetual ruins,all the evil that the enemy has done in the sanctuary.
Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
Also read Joshua 10:24, Micah 3:12, Revelation 11:2, Micah 1:3
Your adversaries have roared in the middle of your assembly.They have set up their standards as signs.
Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
Also read Lamentations 2:7, Luke 21:20, 2 Chronicles 36:17, Luke 13:1
They behaved like men wielding axes,cutting through a thicket of trees.
A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
Also read 2 Chronicles 2:14, Jeremiah 46:22-23, 1 Kings 5:6
Now they break all its carved work down with hatchet and hammers.
But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
Also read 1 Kings 6:29, 1 Kings 6:18, 1 Kings 6:35, 1 Kings 6:32
They have burned your sanctuary to the ground.They have profaned the dwelling place of your Name.
They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
The central loss is stated plainly. The enemies have burned the sanctuary to the ground and profaned the dwelling place of God's Name. The psalm treats it as an attack on God himself.
Also read Exodus 20:24, 1 Kings 8:20, 2 Kings 25:9, Psalm 89:39
They said in their heart, “We will crush them completely.”They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.
They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
Also read Esther 3:8-9, Psalm 83:4, 2 Kings 4:23, 2 Kings 2:5
We see no miraculous signs.There is no longer any prophet,neither is there among us anyone who knows how long.
We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
No miraculous signs are seen, there is no longer any prophet, and no one knows how long this will last. The people have lost their place of worship and any word of explanation.
Also read Judges 6:17, Exodus 13:9-10, Ezekiel 7:26, Amos 8:11
How long, God, shall the adversary reproach?Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
How long, God, the speaker asks, will the adversary reproach, and will the enemy blaspheme your name forever. The concern is God's reputation as much as the people's suffering.
Also read Revelation 6:10, Daniel 12:6, Psalm 89:46, Psalm 89:50-51
Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand?Take it from your chest and consume them!
Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
Also read Psalm 78:65-66, Lamentations 2:3, Isaiah 64:12, Psalm 44:23
Yet God is my King of old,working salvation throughout the earth.
For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
Here the psalm turns. Yet God is my King of old, working salvation throughout the earth. The verses that follow recall what that King has done.
Also read Isaiah 63:8, Psalm 44:4, Exodus 19:5-6, Numbers 23:21-22
You divided the sea by your strength.You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
God divided the sea by his strength and broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters. The psalm reaches back to God's power over the sea and its creatures. It is remembered as proof of what he can do.
Also read Exodus 14:21, Ezekiel 29:3, Isaiah 51:9-10, Psalm 78:13
You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces.You gave him as food to people and desert creatures.
Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
Also read Job 3:8, Exodus 12:35-36, Psalm 104:25-26, Numbers 14:9
You opened up spring and stream.You dried up mighty rivers.
Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
Also read 2 Kings 2:8, Joshua 2:10, Exodus 14:21-22, Revelation 16:12
The day is yours, the night is also yours.You have prepared the light and the sun.
The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
Day and night both belong to God, and he prepared the light and the sun. The verse claims the whole cycle of time for him. The dark hours of the present are his as well.
Also read Genesis 1:3-5, Psalm 19:1-6, Psalm 104:19, Psalm 136:7-9
You have set all the boundaries of the earth.You have made summer and winter.
Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
God set all the boundaries of the earth and made summer and winter. The order of the world and its seasons is his work. The psalm uses this as a reason to expect him to act.
Also read Acts 14:17, Deuteronomy 32:8, Psalm 24:1-2, Acts 17:26
Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, LORD.Foolish people have blasphemed your name.
Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
Also read Deuteronomy 32:6, Deuteronomy 32:27, Psalm 94:2-8, Ezekiel 20:14
Don’t deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts.Don’t forget the life of your poor forever.
O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
Also read Song of Songs 2:14, Psalm 9:18, Zephaniah 3:12, Psalm 68:10
Honor your covenant,for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth.
Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
The speaker asks God to honour his covenant. The reason given is that haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth. The covenant is the ground of the appeal.
Also read Psalm 105:8, Jeremiah 33:20-26, Psalm 89:34-36, Genesis 49:5-7
Don’t let the oppressed return ashamed.Let the poor and needy praise your name.
O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
Also read Psalm 35:10, Ezra 3:11, Isaiah 45:17, Psalm 12:5
Arise, God! Plead your own cause.Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.
Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
Arise, God, and plead your own cause, the speaker says. Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day. Near the end, the psalm asks God to take up his own cause.
Also read Psalm 9:19-20, Psalm 74:18, Psalm 79:9-10, Psalm 53:1
Don’t forget the voice of your adversaries.The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually.
Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.
Also read Psalm 65:7, Psalm 74:4, Lamentations 2:16, Revelation 17:14
A prayer from Psalm 74
God, why have you rejected us forever? Remember your congregation, the people you redeemed long ago. The enemy has done great harm in your sanctuary and burned the places where you were worshiped. We see no signs, and no one among us knows how long. Yet you are my King of old, working salvation throughout the earth. The day is yours and the night is yours. You set the boundaries of the earth and made summer and winter. Do not forget the life of your poor forever. Honor your covenant. Let the poor and needy praise your name. Amen.
Psalm 74 Bible study questions
- In verses 4 to 8, what have the enemies done to the sanctuary?
- According to verse 9, what is missing among the people?
- Verse 12 begins with Yet after a long description of ruin; what do you notice about where the psalm turns for hope?
- Verses 16 and 17 speak of day and night, summer and winter; how might the steady order of creation matter to someone facing loss?
- Psalm 79:1 also describes the temple defiled and Jerusalem in ruins; how does it compare with Psalm 74:7?
Questions about Psalm 74
What is Psalm 74 about?
It is a lament over the destruction of God's sanctuary by enemies. It asks why God has rejected his people, remembers his power as creator and king, and pleads with him to act.
Who wrote Psalm 74?
The heading attributes it to Asaph and calls it a contemplation. The psalm does not say which enemy destroyed the sanctuary.
What does Psalm 74:2 mean?
It asks God to remember the congregation he purchased and redeemed long ago, and Mount Zion where he lived. It appeals to God's own history with his people.
What do Psalm 74:16 and 17 mean?
They say that day and night belong to God, that he prepared the light and the sun, set the boundaries of the earth and made summer and winter. The psalm recalls this order as a reason to trust God to act.
What does Psalm 74 say in the KJV?
The King James Version renders verse 17: "Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter." Verse 20 says "the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty."
Psalm 74 KJV: the King James Version
O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?1
Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.2
Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.3
Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.4
A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.5
But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.6
They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.7
They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.8
We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.9
O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?10
Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.11
For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.12
Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.13
Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.14
Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.15
The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.16
Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.17
Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.18
O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.19
Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.20
O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.21
Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.22
Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.23
Psalm 74 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף לָמָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים זָנַ֣חְתָּ לָנֶ֑צַח יֶעְשַׁ֥ן אַ֝פְּךָ֗ בְּצֹ֣אן מַרְעִיתֶֽךָ׃
2 זְכֹ֤ר עֲדָתְךָ֨ ׀ קָ֘נִ֤יתָ קֶּ֗דֶם גָּ֭אַלְתָּ שֵׁ֣בֶט נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ הַר־צִ֝יּ֗וֹן זֶ֤ה ׀ שָׁכַ֬נְתָּ בּֽוֹ׃
3 הָרִ֣ימָה פְ֭עָמֶיךָ לְמַשֻּׁא֣וֹת נֶ֑צַח כָּל־הֵרַ֖ע אוֹיֵ֣ב בַּקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃
4 שָׁאֲג֣וּ צֹ֭רְרֶיךָ בְּקֶ֣רֶב מוֹעֲדֶ֑ךָ שָׂ֖מוּ אוֹתֹתָ֣ם אֹתֽוֹת׃
5 יִ֭וָּדַע כְּמֵבִ֣יא לְמָ֑עְלָה בִּֽסֲבָךְ־עֵ֝֗ץ קַרְדֻּמּֽוֹת׃
6 ועת פִּתּוּחֶ֣יהָ יָּ֑חַד בְּכַשִּׁ֥יל וְ֝כֵֽילַפֹּ֗ת יַהֲלֹמֽוּן׃
7 שִׁלְח֣וּ בָ֭אֵשׁ מִקְדָּשֶׁ֑ךָ לָ֝אָ֗רֶץ חִלְּל֥וּ מִֽשְׁכַּן־שְׁמֶֽךָ ׃
8 אָמְר֣וּ בְ֭לִבָּם נִינָ֣ם יָ֑חַד שָׂרְפ֖וּ כָל־מוֹעֲדֵי־אֵ֣ל בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
9 אֽוֹתֹתֵ֗ינוּ לֹ֥א רָ֫אִ֥ינוּ אֵֽין־ע֥וֹד נָבִ֑יא וְלֹֽא־אִ֝תָּ֗נוּ יֹדֵ֥עַ עַד־מָֽה׃
10 עַד־מָתַ֣י אֱ֭לֹהִים יְחָ֣רֶף צָ֑ר יְנָ֘אֵ֤ץ אוֹיֵ֖ב שִׁמְךָ֣ לָנֶֽצַח׃
11 לָ֤מָּה תָשִׁ֣יב יָ֭דְךָ וִֽימִינֶ֑ךָ מִקֶּ֖רֶב חוקך כַלֵּֽה׃
12 וֵ֭אלֹהִים מַלְכִּ֣י מִקֶּ֑דֶם פֹּעֵ֥ל יְ֝שׁוּע֗וֹת בְּקֶ֣רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃
13 אַתָּ֤ה פוֹרַ֣רְתָּ בְעָזְּךָ֣ יָ֑ם שִׁבַּ֖רְתָּ רָאשֵׁ֥י תַ֝נִּינִ֗ים עַל־הַמָּֽיִם׃
14 אַתָּ֣ה רִ֭צַּצְתָּ רָאשֵׁ֣י לִוְיָתָ֑ן תִּתְּנֶ֥נּוּ מַ֝אֲכָ֗ל לְעָ֣ם לְצִיִּֽים׃
15 אַתָּ֣ה בָ֭קַעְתָּ מַעְיָ֣ן וָנָ֑חַל אַתָּ֥ה ה֝וֹבַ֗שְׁתָּ נַהֲר֥וֹת אֵיתָֽן׃
16 לְךָ֣ י֭וֹם אַף־לְךָ֥ לָ֑יְלָה אַתָּ֥ה הֲ֝כִינ֗וֹתָ מָא֥וֹר וָשָֽׁמֶשׁ׃
17 אַתָּ֣ה הִ֭צַּבְתָּ כָּל־גְּבוּל֣וֹת אָ֑רֶץ קַ֥יִץ וָ֝חֹ֗רֶף אַתָּ֥ה יְצַרְתָּם׃
18 זְכָר־זֹ֗את א֭וֹיֵב חֵרֵ֣ף ׀ יְהוָ֑ה וְעַ֥ם נָ֝בָ֗ל נִֽאֲצ֥וּ שְׁמֶֽךָ׃
19 אַל־תִּתֵּ֣ן לְ֭חַיַּת נֶ֣פֶשׁ תּוֹרֶ֑ךָ חַיַּ֥ת עֲ֝נִיֶּ֗יךָ אַל־תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח לָנֶֽצַח׃
20 הַבֵּ֥ט לַבְּרִ֑ית כִּ֥י מָלְא֥וּ מַחֲשַׁכֵּי־אֶ֝֗רֶץ נְא֣וֹת חָמָֽס׃
21 אַל־יָשֹׁ֣ב דַּ֣ךְ נִכְלָ֑ם עָנִ֥י וְ֝אֶבְי֗וֹן יְֽהַלְל֥וּ שְׁמֶֽךָ׃
22 קוּמָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים רִיבָ֣ה רִיבֶ֑ךָ זְכֹ֥ר חֶרְפָּתְךָ֥ מִנִּי־נָ֝בָ֗ל כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃
23 אַל־תִּ֭שְׁכַּח ק֣וֹל צֹרְרֶ֑יךָ שְׁא֥וֹן קָ֝מֶ֗יךָ עֹלֶ֥ה תָמִֽיד׃
Psalm 74 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 73 there.
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1 Understanding for Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off unto the end: why is thy wrath enkindled against the sheep of thy pasture?
2 Remember thy congregation, which thou hast possessed from the beginning. The sceptre of thy inheritance which thou hast redeemed: mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt.
3 Lift up thy hands against their pride unto the end; see what things the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
4 And they that hate thee have made their boasts, in the midst of thy solemnity. They have set up their ensigns for signs,
5 And they knew not both in the going out and on the highest top. As with axes in a wood of trees,
6 They have cut down at once the gates thereof, with axe and hatchet they have brought it down.
7 They have set fire to thy sanctuary: they have defiled the dwelling place of thy name on the earth.
8 They said in their heart, the whole kindred of them together: Let us abolish all the festival days of God from the land.
9 Our signs we have not seen, there is now no prophet: and he will know us no more.
10 How long, O God, shall the enemy reproach: is the adversary to provoke thy name for ever?
11 Why dost thou turn away thy hand: and thy right hand out of the midst of thy bosom for ever?
12 But God is our king before ages: he hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 Thou by thy strength didst make the sea firm: thou didst crush the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14 Thou hast broken the heads of the dragon: thou hast given him to be meat for the people of the Ethiopians.
15 Thou hast broken up the fountains and the torrents: thou hast dried up the Ethan rivers.
16 Thine is the day, and thine is the night: thou hast made the morning light and the sun.
17 Thou hast made all the borders of the earth: the summer and the spring were formed by thee.
18 Remember this, the enemy hath reproached the Lord: and a foolish people hath provoked thy name.
19 Deliver not up to beasts the souls that confess to thee: and forget not to the end the souls of thy poor.
20 Have regard to thy covenant: for they that are the obscure of the earth have been filled with dwellings of iniquity.
21 Let not the humble be turned away with confusion: the poor and needy shall praise thy name.
22 Arise, O God, judge thy own cause: remember thy reproaches with which the foolish man hath reproached thee all the day.
23 Forget not the voices of thy enemies: the pride of them that hate thee ascendeth continually.
Psalm 74 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 73.
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1 Intellectus Asaph. Ut quid, Deus, repulisti in finem, iratus est furor tuus super oves pascuæ tuæ?
2 Memor esto congregationis tuæ, quam possedisti ab initio. Redemisti virgam hæreditatis tuæ, mons Sion, in quo habitasti in eo.
3 Leva manus tuas in superbias eorum in finem: quanta malignatus est inimicus in sancto !
4 Et gloriati sunt qui oderunt te in medio solemnitatis tuæ; posuerunt signa sua, signa:
5 et non cognoverunt sicut in exitu super summum. Quasi in silva lignorum securibus
6 exciderunt januas ejus in idipsum; in securi et ascia dejecerunt eam.
7 Incenderunt igni sanctuarium tuum; in terra polluerunt tabernaculum nominis tui.
8 Dixerunt in corde suo cognatio eorum simul: Quiescere faciamus omnes dies festos Dei a terra.
9 Signa nostra non vidimus; jam non est propheta; et nos non cognoscet amplius.
10 Usquequo, Deus, improperabit inimicus? irritat adversarius nomen tuum in finem?
11 Ut quid avertis manum tuam, et dexteram tuam de medio sinu tuo in finem?
12 Deus autem rex noster ante sæcula: operatus est salutem in medio terræ.
13 Tu confirmasti in virtute tua mare; contribulasti capita draconum in aquis.
14 Tu confregisti capita draconis; dedisti eum escam populis Æthiopum.
15 Tu dirupisti fontes et torrentes; tu siccasti fluvios Ethan.
16 Tuus est dies, et tua est nox; tu fabricatus es auroram et solem.
17 Tu fecisti omnes terminos terræ; æstatem et ver tu plasmasti ea.
18 Memor esto hujus: inimicus improperavit Domino, et populus insipiens incitavit nomen tuum.
19 Ne tradas bestiis animas confitentes tibi, et animas pauperum tuorum ne obliviscaris in finem.
20 Respice in testamentum tuum, quia repleti sunt qui obscurati sunt terræ domibus iniquitatum.
21 Ne avertatur humilis factus confusus; pauper et inops laudabunt nomen tuum.
22 Exsurge, Deus, judica causam tuam; memor esto improperiorum tuorum, eorum quæ ab insipiente sunt tota die.
23 Ne obliviscaris voces inimicorum tuorum: superbia eorum qui te oderunt ascendit semper.
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Psalm 74 at a glance
| Verses | 23 |
| Heading in the text | A contemplation by Asaph. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to Asaph and calls it a contemplation. |
| Type | Lament |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 73 |
Read Psalm 74 when you are facing
Psalm 74 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 74 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 74 belongs
Psalms of AsaphBook 3 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source