Psalms 79

1 A psalm of Asaph. God, heathen nations have invaded your land. They have defiled your holy Temple. They have turned Jerusalem into heaps of rubble.

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.

2 They have given the dead bodies of your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of your faithful people to the beasts of the earth.

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.

3 They have poured out the blood of Jerusalem's people like water all through the city; no one remains to bury the dead.

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

4 We have been made a mockery before our neighbors, ridiculed and laughed at by those around us.

We are looked down on by our neighbours, we are laughed at and made sport of by those who are round us.

5 How long, Lord? Will you be angry with us forever? Will your jealousy always burn like fire?

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

6 Pour out your anger on the heathen nations that don't know you, and on those kingdoms that don't worship you!

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.

7 For they have destroyed the descendants of Jacob, and turned our country into a wasteland.

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

8 Don't hold the sins of our forefathers against us! Come to us quickly for we desperately need your compassion.

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.

9 Help us, God of our salvation, because of your wonderful character! Save us and forgive us our sins because that's the kind of person you are!

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.

10 Why should the heathen nations be able to say, “Where is their God?” May they experience your punishment for shedding the blood of your servants, and may we see it.

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.

11 Listen to the groans of the prisoners; with your great power save those condemned to die.

Let the cry of the prisoner come before you; with your strong arm make free the children of death;

12 Pay each of these neighbors back seven times for the scorn and ridicule they directed against you, Lord.

And give punishment seven times over into the breast of our neighbours for the bitter words which they have said against you, O Lord.

13 Then we your people, the flock of your pasture, will praise you forever. We will thank you for all generations to come.

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.