Psalms 74:11

Verse Psalms 74:11. Why withdrawest thou thy hand] It has been remarked, that as the outward habit of the easterns had no sleeves, the hands and arms were frequently covered with the folds of the robe; and in order to do any thing, the hand must be disentangled and drawn out. The literal version of the Hebrew is: "To what time wilt thou draw back thy hand; yea, thy right hand, from within thy bosom?" Consume; that is, manifest thy power, and destroy thy adversaries. I have, in the introduction to the book of Psalms, spoken of the old metrical version by Sternhold and Hopkins, and have stated that it was formed from the original text. A proof of this may be seen by the learned reader in this and the preceding verse; where, though their version is harsh, and some of their expressions quaint almost to ridicule, yet they have hit the true meaning which our prose translators have missed: -

Ver. Psalms 74:10. When wilt thou once, Lord, end this shame,

And cease thine en'mies strong?

Shall they always blaspheme thy name,

And rail on thee so long?

Ver. Psalms 74:11. Why dost thou draw thy hand aback,

And hide it in thy lap?

O pluck it out, and be not slack

To give thy foes a rap!