September 15: Psalms 74–77

Psalms 74–77 Psalms 74–77 (Listen) Arise, O God, Defend Your Cause A Maskil1 of Asaph. 74   O God, why do you cast us off forever?<br />    Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?<br />2   Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old,<br />    which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage!<br />    Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.<br />3   Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins;<br />    the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!<br /> 4   Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place;<br />    they set up their own signs for signs.<br />5   They were like those who swing axes<br />    in a forest of trees.2<br />6   And all its carved wood<br />    they broke down with hatchets and hammers.<br />7   They set your sanctuary on fire;<br />    they profaned the dwelling place of your name,<br />    bringing it down to the ground.<br />8   They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”;<br />