Psalms 79

1 A Psalm for Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; they have polluted thy holy temple; they have made Jerusalem a storehouse of fruits.

A Psalm by Asaph. God, the nations have come into your inheritance. They have defiled your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

2 They have given the dead bodies of thy servants [to be] food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of thy holy ones for the wild beasts of the earth.

They have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your saints to the animals of the earth.

3 They have shed their blood as water, round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury [them].

They have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem. There was no one to bury them.

4 We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them [that are] round about us.

We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.

5 How long, O Lord? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

How long, Yahweh? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms which have not called upon thy name.

Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name,

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

for they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed his homeland.

8 Remember not our old transgressions; let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us; for we are greatly impoverished.

Don’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, for we are in desperate need.

9 Help us, O God our Saviour; for the glory of thy name, O Lord, deliver us; and be merciful to our sins, for thy name's sake.

Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.

10 Lets haply they should say among the heathen, Where is their God? and let the avenging of thy servant's blood that has been shed be known among the heathen before our eyes.

Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let it be known among the nations, before our eyes, that vengeance for your servants’ blood is being poured out.

11 Let the groaning of the prisoners come in before thee; according to the greatness of thine arm preserve the sons of the slain ones.

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.

12 Repay to our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached thee, O Lord.

Pay back to our neighbors seven times into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.

13 For we are thy people and the sheep of thy pasture; we will give thee thanks for ever; we will declare thy praise throughout all generations.

So we, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever. We will praise you forever, to all generations.