Psalms 79

1 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations are come into thine inheritance: thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

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

2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowl of the heavens, the flesh of thy saints unto 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 have they shed like water round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury [them].

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

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

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

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

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

6 Pour out thy fury upon the nations that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that call not upon thy 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 devoured Jacob, and laid waste his habitation.

for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.

8 Remember not against us the iniquities of [our] forefathers; let thy tender mercies speedily come to meet us: for we are brought very low.

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

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, because of the glory of thy name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name's sake.

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 Wherefore should the nations say, Where is their God? Let the avenging of the blood of thy servants that is shed be known among the nations in our sight.

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 groaning of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thine arm, preserve those that are appointed to die;

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

12 And render unto our neighbours, sevenfold into their bosom, their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

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

13 And we, thy people and the sheep of thy pasture, will give thanks unto thee for ever; we will shew forth thy praise from generation to generation.

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