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How long O Lord must we wait?

BibleGateway: Psalm 74

ESV Text: Psalm 74


KJV Text:

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KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 74:

     1 Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? 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. 3 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. 4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs. 5 A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. 6 But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. 7 They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. 8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. 9 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. 10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? 11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.

     12 For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. 13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. 14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness. 15 Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers. 16 The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun. 17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

     18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. 19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever. 20 Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. 21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name. 22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily. 23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 605:
The World is Very Evil

— Organ Audio

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1. The world is very evil, 
The times are waxing late; 
Be sober and keep vigil, 
The Judge is at the gate; 
The Judge that comes in mercy, 
The Judge that comes with might, 
To terminate the evil, 
To diadem the right. 

2. Arise, arise, good Christian, 
Let right to wrong succeed; 
Let penitential sorrow 
To heav’nly gladness lead, 
To light that hath no evening, 
That knows no moon nor sun, 
The light so new and golden, 
The light that is but one. 

3. O home of fadeless splendor, 
Of flow’rs that bear no thorn, 
Where they shall dwell as children 
Who here as exiles mourn. 
Midst pow’r that knows no limit, 
Where knowledge has no bound, 
The beatific vision 
Shall glad the saints around. 

4. Strive, man, to win that glory; 
Toil, man, to gain that light; 
Send hope before to grasp it 
Till hope be lost in sight. 
Exult, O dust and ashes, 
The Lord shall be thy part; 
His only, His forever, 
Thou shalt be and thou art. 

5. O sweet and blessed country, 
The home of God’s elect! 
O sweet and blessed country 
That eager hearts expect! 
Jesus, in mercy bring us 
To that dear land of rest, 
Who art, with God the Father 
And Spirit, ever blest.