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. Heathen, O God, have come into your land, defiling your holy temple, and laying Jerusalem in 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 bodies of your dead servants to the birds of the air to devour, and the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the field.

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

Round about Jerusalem they have poured out their blood like water; and there was no one 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.

On every side our neighbors revile us and mock us and jeer at us.

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

How long will you be angry, O Lord? Will your jealousy burn like fire forever?

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 don’t know you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name.

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

For Jacob they devoured, they have desolated his home.

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 remember against us our ancestors’ sins; O meet us soon with your pity, for utterly weak are we.

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 our savior, for the renown of your name: for your reputation deliver us and cover over our sins.

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?” Let revenge for the outpoured blood of your servants be shown on the heathen before our eyes.

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 prisoner come before you; free the children of death by your mighty arm.

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 our neighbors back sevenfold for the scorn they have heaped upon 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 flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you for evermore, and tell your praise to all generations.