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.” O God! the nations have come into thine inheritance; They have polluted thy holy temple; They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins!

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 dead bodies of thy servants to be food for the birds of heaven, The flesh of thy holy ones to the wild 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 around 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 have become the reproach of our neighbors, —The scorn and derision of 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! wilt thou be angry for ever? How long shall thy 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 thy wrath on the nations which acknowledge thee not. And on the kingdoms which call not upon thy 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 thy tender mercy speedily succor us,

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.

For we are brought very low! Help us, O God of our salvation! for the honor of thy name; F or thy name's sake save us, and forgive our iniquities!

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 say, “Where is their God?” May the revenging of the blood of thy servants, which hath been shed, Be manifested among the nations before our eyes!

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

Let the cry of the prisoner come before thee! According to the greatness of thy power preserve 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 return sevenfold into our neighbors' bosoms The reproach with which they have reproached thee, 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 shall we, thy people, and the flock of thy pasture, Give thanks to thee for ever. And show forth thy praise to all generations.