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

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 dead bodies of your servants [to be] food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your holy ones for the wild 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.

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

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

We are become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them [that are] round about 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? shall your jealousy burn 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!

Pour out your wrath upon the heathen that have not known you, and upon the kingdoms which have not called upon your name.

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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.

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

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

Let the groaning of the prisoners come in before you; according to the greatness of your arm preserve the sons of the slain ones.

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

Repay to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached 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.

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