Psalms 79

1 A Psalm of Asaph. The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the Gentiles have entered into your inheritance; they have polluted your holy temple. They have set Jerusalem as a place to tend fruit trees.

2 They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.

They have placed the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your saints for the beasts of the earth.

3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.

They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one who would bury them.

4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those around us.

We have become a disgrace to our neighbors, an object of ridicule and mockery to those who are around us.

5 How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

How long, O Lord? Will you be angry until the end? Will your zeal be kindled like a fire?

6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that refuse to call on Your name,

Pour out your wrath among the Gentiles, who have not known you, and upon the kingdoms that have not invoked your name.

7 for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.

For they have devoured Jacob, and they have desolated his place.

8 Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low.

Do not remember our iniquities of the past. May your mercies quickly intercept us, for we have become exceedingly poor.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for the sake of Your name.

Help us, O God, our Savior. And free us, Lord, for the glory of your name. And forgive us our sins for the sake of your name.

10 Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.

Let them not say among the Gentiles, “Where is their God?” And may your name become known among the nations before our eyes. For the retribution of your servants’ blood, which has been poured out:

11 May the groans of the captives reach You; by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death.

may the groans of the shackled enter before you. According to the greatness of your arm, take possession of the sons of those who have been killed.

12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord.

And repay our neighbors sevenfold within their sinews. It is the reproach of the same ones who brought reproach against you, O Lord.

13 Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will thank You forever; from generation to generation we will declare Your praise.

But we are your people and the sheep of your pasture: we will give thanks to you in all ages. From generation to generation, we will announce your praise.