Psalms 74:19
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
O deliver not the soul of your turtledove to the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of your poor for ever.
American King James Version (AKJV)
O deliver not the soul of your turtledove to the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of your poor for ever.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Oh deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast: Forget not the life of thy poor for ever.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
O give not the soul of your dove to the hawk; let not the life of the poor go out of your memory for ever.
Webster's Revision
O deliver not the soul of thy turtle dove to the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
World English Bible
Don't deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts. Don't forget the life of your poor forever.
English Revised Version (ERV)
O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast: forget not the life of thy poor for ever.
Clarke's Psalms 74:19 Bible Commentary
Deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove - Thy people Israel are helpless, defenceless, miserable, and afflicted: O deliver them no longer into the power of their brutal adversaries.
Barnes's Psalms 74:19 Bible Commentary
O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove - The "life" of thy turtle-dove; or, thy turtle-dove itself. The turtle-dove is a name of endearment for one beloved, in Sol 2:12, and is thus applied here to the people of Israel. The leading idea in such an application of the word is that of innocence, harmlessness, timidity, gentleness. The thought here is that of a people dear to God, now timid and alarmed. It is the prayer of a people beloved by God that he would not deliver them to their enemies. The prayer may be regarded as one which was used on the occasion referred to in the psalm; or, as a general prayer for the people of God, considered as exposed to ravening enemies.
Unto the multitude of the wicked - The words "of the wicked" are not in the original. The word rendered "multitude" - חיה chayâh - (compare the notes at Psalm 68:10) - is the same which in the other member of the sentence is rendered "congregation." It may be applied to a herd of cattle, tame or wild; and then to a "people" - a band, a troop, a host - whether of orderly and civilized, or of wild and savage people. It seems to be used in this double sense in the verse before us; in the first member of the verse, "deliver not thy turtle-dove "to the multitude" - to the wild beast, or to the savage hosts; in the latter, "forget not the congregation of thy poor" - thy flock - thy people - considered as timid or alarmed. Save the timid and trembling flock from beasts of prey.
Wesley's Psalms 74:19 Bible Commentary
74:19 Soul - The life. Turtle - dove - Of thy church, which is fitly compared to a turtle - dove, because simple and harmless, and meek, and faithful.