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Chapter Summary

Psalm 74 is a communal lament over the destruction of the temple. Asaph asks why God has rejected His people forever and cast off the sanctuary. Enemies have burned and defiled God's meeting places; there are no prophets to say how long. Yet the psalmist remembers God's power in creation and the exodus, and pleads: "Have regard for the covenant."

Key Verses in This Chapter

Verse 12 - God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth
Verse 20 - Have regard for the covenant; the dark places of the land are full of violence

Psalms Chapter 74

Chapter 74 of Psalms from the Holy Bible

Verses: 23Reading time: ~3 min
Reading

Verses

Psalms 74:1

O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

Psalms 74:2

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.

Psalms 74:3

Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.

Psalms 74:4

Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.

Psalms 74:5

A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.

Psalms 74:6

But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.

Psalms 74:7

They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.

Psalms 74:8

They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

Psalms 74:9

We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

Psalms 74:10

O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

Psalms 74:11

Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.

Psalms 74:12

For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

Psalms 74:13

Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.

Psalms 74:14

Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

Psalms 74:15

Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.

Psalms 74:16

The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

Psalms 74:17

Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

Psalms 74:18

Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.

Psalms 74:19

O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.

Psalms 74:20

Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

Psalms 74:21

O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.

Psalms 74:22

Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.

Psalms 74:23

Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.

People Also Ask

What is Psalms Chapter 74 about?

Psalms Chapter 74 is part of the book of Psalms in the Wisdom Literature (Poetic Books). This chapter contains 23 verses. Read the full text above to study its message in context with the surrounding chapters.

How many verses are in Psalms Chapter 74?

Psalms Chapter 74 contains 23 verses. You can use the Audio Reader to listen to this chapter read aloud, or use the font size controls above to adjust the text for comfortable reading. Bookmark individual verses by hovering over them and clicking the bookmark icon.

How can I study Psalms Chapter 74 more deeply?

To study this chapter more deeply: (1) Read the surrounding chapters for context - start with Chapter 73. (2) Explore related themes in our Faith Discussions section. (3) Find verses that match your emotional needs in Verses by Emotion. (4) Use the bookmark feature to save key verses for later reflection.