thou, O LORD, makest their image despised in the city.

But it grieveth me in my heart, and stingeth me in my kidneys, 22. That I should be a fool, and know nothing, and be as a beast before thee.

Nevertheless I cleave unto thee always: for thou holdest me by my right hand, 24. Thou leadest me according to thy counsel, and receivest me at last with honour.

If I have thee only, I ask nothing of heaven and earth.

Though my body and soul languish, yet thou, O God, art ever the consolation of my heart, and my portion.

For, lo, they that depart from thee shall perish: thou destroyest all them that fornicate against thee.

But this is my joy, to cleave unto God, and to put my trust in the Lord GOD, to declare all thy doings.
The 74th Psalm (^)
Prayer for the preservation of the church.

a teaching of Assaph. God, why do you even reject us and are so fiercely angry with the sheep of your pasture?

Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old, and redeemed unto thine inheritance, even mount Zion, where thou dwellest.

Tread them under foot, and cast them down to the ground. The enemy has spoiled everything in the sanctuary.

Thine abominable ones roar in thy houses, and set their idols therein.

The axes are seen looking up, as one heweth in a forest,

And hew up all his tables with axe and baleen.

They burn up thy sanctuary; they profane the habitation of thy name to the ground.

They say in their heart, Let us plunder them. They burn all the houses of GOD in the land.

We see not our signs, neither doth a prophet preach, nor a teacher teach us any more.

O God, how long shall the wicked revile, and the enemy blaspheme thy name?

Why turnest thou away thy hand, and thy right hand from thy bosom so completely?

But God is my King from of old, which doeth all help that is done in the earth.

Thou shalt divide the sea by thy strength, and shatter the heads of the dragons in the waters.

Thou shalt break the heads of the whales, and give them for meat unto the people of the wilderness.

Thou hast caused fountains and rivers to flow; thou hast dried up mighty streams.

The day and the night are thine; thou makest both the sun and the stars to have their course.

Thou settest the border of every land; thou makest summer and winter.

Remember therefore, that the enemy reproacheth the LORD, and a foolish people blasphemeth thy name.

Thou wilt not give the soul of thy turtledove unto the beast, nor forget thy wretched beasts.

Remember the covenant: for the land is miserably desolate in every place, and the houses are broken down.

Let not the lowly go away with shame: for the poor and the miserable glorify thy name.

Arise, O God, and plead thy cause: remember the reproach that is daily returned unto thee of the fools.

Forget not the clamour of thine enemies: the clamour of thine adversaries increaseth the longer.
The 75th Psalm (^)
Praise of the wonders of God. Warning ,of security

A psalm and song of Assaph, that he perish not, to sing.

We thank thee, O GOD, we give thanks unto thee, and declare thy wonders, that thy name is so near.

For in his time I will judge aright.

The land trembleth, and all that dwell therein: but I hold her pillars fast. Sela.

And I said unto the glorifiers: Do not boast so; and to the wicked, Do not press for violence.

do not exalt your power, do not be stiff-necked,

Let there be no distress, neither from going up, nor from coming down, nor from the mountains of the wilderness.

For God is judge, who bringeth down this man, and exalteth that man.

For the LORD hath a cup in his hand full of strong wine, and poureth out of the same: but the wicked drink all, and drink out the lees.

But I will proclaim for ever, and sing praise unto the God of Jacob.

And I will break all the power of the wicked, that the power of the righteous may be exalted.
The 76th Psalm (^)
God is his church’s defense.

a psalm song of Assaph, to be sung on strings.

GOD is known in Judah, in Israel His name is glorious.

In Salem is his tent, and his tabernacle in Zion.

there he breaketh the arrows of the bow, and the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Sela.

Thou art more glorious and mightier than the mountains of prey.

The proud shall be deprived, and shall fall asleep; and all the warriors shall let down their hands.

From thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and chariot shall fall asleep.

You’re terrifying. Who can stand before you when you are angry?

When thou shalt hear judgment from heaven, the earth shall be afraid, and shall be still, 10. When God arises to judge, to help all the wretched of the earth. Sela.

When men rage against thee, thou puttest in honour: and when they rage more, thou art armed also.

Praise and keep the LORD your God, all ye that are about him; bring gifts unto the terrible one,

Who taketh away the courage of princes, and is terrible among the kings of the earth.
The 77th Psalm (^)
The pious are tempted and comforted.

a psalm of Assaph for Jeduthun, to be sung.

I cry with my voice unto GOD; unto GOD I cry, and he heareth me.

In the time of my trouble I seek the LORD: my hand is stretched out by night, and will not depart: for my soul will not be comforted.

When I am afflicted, I remember God; when my heart is in anguish, I speak. Sela.

Thou keepest mine eyes to watch: I am so faint that I cannot speak.

I think of the old time, of the former years.

I think on my strings at night, and speak with my heart; my mind must search.

Will the LORD then cast out for ever, and show no more mercy?

Is then his goodness utterly ended? and is there an end of the promise?

Hath God then forgotten to be gracious, and shut up his mercy from wrath? Sela.

But yet I said, I must suffer this: the right hand of the Most High is able to change all things.

Therefore I remember the deeds of the LORD: yea, I remember thy former wonders.

And speak of all thy works, and say of thy doings.

God, your way is holy. Where is such a mighty God as you, God, are?

Thou art the God that doeth wonders: thou hast shewed thy power among the nations.

Thou hast redeemed thy people mightily, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Sela.

The waters saw thee, O God; the waters saw thee, and were afraid, and the deeps raged.

The thick clouds poured water; the clouds thundered, and the beams lead therefore.

There was thunder in heaven; thy lightnings shone upon the face of the earth; the earth stirred and trembled.

Thy way was in the sea, and thy path in great waters; yet thy foot was not felt.

Thou leadest thy people as a flock of sheep by Moses and Aaron.
The 78th Psalm (^)
Narrative of the benefits and punishments of God, shown to his people.

An instruction of Assaph. Hear, my people, my law; incline your ears to the speech of my mouth.

I will open my mouth for proverbs, and speak out ancient history, 3. Which we have heard, and know, and which our fathers have told us, 4. That we should not refrain from their children that come after, and declare the glory of the
LORD, and his power, and the wonders which he hath done.

He established a testimony in Jacob, and gave a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach their children,

That their seed might learn, and the children that should be born after them, when they were grown up, might tell it also unto their children,

That they might put their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, and keep his commandments,

And became not as their fathers, an apostate and disobedient sort, whose heart was not steadfast, neither did their spirit hold fast to God;

As the children of Ephraim, which had the bow in their hand, fell away in the day of battle.

They kept not the covenant of God, neither would they walk in his law, 11. And they forgot his deeds, and his wonders which he had shewed them.

In the sight of their fathers he did wonders in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

And he divided the sea, and let them go through it: and he set up the waters as a wall.

He led them by day with a cloud, and by night with a bright fire.

He plucked up the rocks of the wilderness, and watered them with water abundantly; 16. And he made rivers to flow out of the rock, and they went down like rivers of water.

Yet they continued in sin against him, and provoked the most high to anger in the wilderness; 18. And tempted God in their heart, that they might require meat for their souls; 19. And they spake against God, saying: Yes, God should be able to prepare a table in the wilderness!

Behold, he hath smitten the rock, and the waters have flowed, and the rivers have flowed: but how can he give bread, and provide meat for his people?

And it came to pass, when the LORD heard it, that he was kindled, and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath came upon Israel,

That they believed not in God, and hoped not for his help.

And he commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven; 24. And he caused the man to rain upon them to eat, and gave them bread