Mazmur 74:9-11

74:9 We do not see any signs of God’s presence; ¹ 

there are no longer any prophets ² 

and we have no one to tell us how long this will last. ³ 

74:10 How long, O God, will the adversary hurl insults?

Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever?

74:11 Why do you remain inactive?

Intervene and destroy him! ⁴ 

[74:9]  ¹ tn Heb “our signs we do not see.” Because of the reference to a prophet in the next line, it is likely that the “signs” in view here include the evidence of God’s presence as typically revealed through the prophets. These could include miraculous acts performed by the prophets (see, for example, Isa 38:7-8) or object lessons which they acted out (see, for example, Isa 20:3).

[74:9]  ² tn Heb “there is not still a prophet.”

[74:9]  ³ tn Heb “and [there is] not with us one who knows how long.”

[74:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand? From the midst of your chest, destroy!” The psalmist pictures God as having placed his right hand (symbolic of activity and strength) inside his robe against his chest. He prays that God would pull his hand out from under his robe and use it to destroy the enemy.