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.

O God, the heathen are come into your inheritance; your holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

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.

The dead bodies of your servants have they given to be meat to the fowls of the heaven, 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.

Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.

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

We are become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

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

How long, LORD? will you be angry for ever? shall 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 heathen that have not known you, and on the kingdoms that have not called on your name.

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

For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.

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.

O remember not against us former iniquities: let your tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very 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: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for your name’s sake.

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 heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of your servants which is shed.

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

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you; according to the greatness of your power preserve you those that are appointed to die;

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.

And render to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached 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.

So we your people and sheep of your pasture will give you thanks for ever: we will show forth your praise to all generations.