Psalms 79

1 A psalm for Asaph. O God, the heathens are come into thy inheritance, they have defiled thy holy temple: they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit.

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

2 They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be meat for the fowls of the air: the flesh of thy saints for 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 They have poured out their blood as 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 scorn and 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 Lord, wilt thou be angry for ever: shall thy zeal be kindled like a fire?

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

6 Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee: and upon the kingdoms that have not called 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 Because they have devoured Jacob; and have laid waste his place.

for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.

8 Remember not our former iniquities: let thy mercies speedily prevent us, for we are become exceeding poor.

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

9 Help us, O God, our saviour: and for the glory of thy name, O Lord, deliver us: and forgive us 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 Lest they should say among the Gentiles: Where is their God? And let him be made known among the nations before our eyes, By the revenging the blood of thy servants, which hath been shed:

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 sighing of the prisoners come in before thee. According to the greatness of thy arm, take possession of the children of them that have been put to death.

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

12 And render to our neighbours sevenfold in their bosom: the 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 But we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever. We will shew forth thy praise, unto generation and generation.

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