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Psalm 74

(from Day 14 Evening Prayer)

Ut quid, Deus?

  1. O GOD, wherefore art thou absent from us so long: why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?
  2. O think upon thy congregation: whom thou hast purchased and redeemed of old.
  3. Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance: and mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
  4. Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy: which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.
  5. Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations: and set up their banners for tokens.
  6. He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees: was known to bring it to an excellent work.
  7. But now they break down all the carved work thereof: with axes and hammers.
  8. They have set fire upon thy holy places: and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.
  9. Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havock of them altogether: thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.
  10. We see not our tokens, there is not one prophet more: no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.
  11. O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour: how long shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name, for ever?
  12. Why withdrawest thou thy hand: why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy?
  13. For God is my King of old: the help that is done upon earth he doeth it himself.
  14. Thou didst divide the sea through thy power: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
  15. Thou smotest the heads of Leviathan in pieces: and gavest him to be meat for the people in the wilderness.
  16. Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks: thou driedst up mighty waters.
  17. The day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
  18. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
  19. Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy hath rebuked: and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.
  20. O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the enemies: and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever.
  21. Look upon the covenant: for all the earth is full of darkness and cruel habitations.
  22. O let not the simple go away ashamed: but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name.
  23. Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause: remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.
  24. Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.