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 Assaph.” O God! nations have entered into thy heritage; they have profaned thy holy temple; they have rendered Jerusalem heaps of ruins.

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 dead bodies of thy servants as food unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy pious ones unto 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 shed their blood like water all round about Jerusalem: and there is 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 are become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those that are round about us.

5 How long, O Lord, wilt thou be angry for ever: shall thy zeal be kindled like a fire?

How long, Lord? wilt thou be indignant for ever? shall thy 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 thy fury over the nations that acknowledge thee not, and over the kingdoms that have not called on thy name.

7 Because they have devoured Jacob; and have laid waste his place.

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

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

Oh remember not against us the iniquities of our fathers: make haste, let thy mercies come to our aid; for we are very miserable.

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, because of the glory of thy name; and deliver us, and atone for our sins, for the sake of thy 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:

Wherefore shall the nations say, Where is their God? let there be made known among the nations before our eyes, the vengeance for the blood of thy servants which hath been shed.

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.

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee: according to the greatness of thy almighty power preserve thou those that are doomed to death;

12 And render to our neighbours sevenfold in their bosom: the reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

And recompense unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their defiance wherewith they have defied thee, 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.

But we thy people and the flock of thy pasture will give thanks unto thee for ever: from generation to generation will we relate thy praise.