Psalms 79

1 A Psalm. Of Asaph. O God, the nations have come into your heritage; they have made your holy Temple unclean; they have made Jerusalem a mass of broken walls.

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

2 They have given the bodies of your servants as food to the birds of the air, and the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth.

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.

3 Their blood has been flowing like water round about Jerusalem; there was no one to put them in their last resting-place.

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

4 We are looked down on by our neighbours, we are laughed at and made sport of by those who are round us.

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

5 How long, O Lord? will you be angry for ever? will your wrath go on burning like fire?

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

6 Let your wrath be on the nations who have no knowledge of you, and on the kingdoms who have not made prayer to your name.

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

7 For they have taken Jacob for their meat, and made waste his house.

for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.

8 Do not keep in mind against us the sins of our fathers; let your mercy come to us quickly, for we have been made very low.

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

9 Give us help, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; take us out of danger and give us forgiveness for our sins, because of your name.

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.

10 Why may the nations say, Where is their God? Let payment for the blood of your servants be made openly among the nations before our eyes.

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.

11 Let the cry of the prisoner come before you; with your strong arm make free the children of death;

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

12 And give punishment seven times over into the breast of our neighbours for the bitter words which they have said against you, O Lord.

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

13 So we your people, and the sheep of your flock, will give you glory for ever: we will go on praising you through all generations.

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