Psalms 79
1 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into Thine inheritance; they have defiled Thy holy temple; they have made Jerusalem into heaps.
God, other people-groups have invaded your land. They have (desecrated your temple/caused your temple to be unfit for worship), and they have destroyed all the buildings in Jerusalem.
2 They have given the dead bodies of Thy servants to be food unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of Thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
[Instead of burying] the corpses of your people [whom they killed], they allowed vultures and wild animals to eat the flesh of those corpses,
3 They have shed their blood like water round about Jerusalem, with none to bury them.
When they killed your people, your people’s blood flowed like water through [the streets of] Jerusalem, and there was [almost] no one [HYP] left to bury their corpses.
4 We are become a taunt to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
The people-groups that live in countries that surround our land insult us; they laugh at us and deride/belittle us.
5 How long, O LORD, wilt Thou be angry for ever? How long will Thy jealousy burn like fire?
Yahweh, how long [will this continue]? Will you be angry with us forever? Will your being angry [destroy us like] a burning fire [destroys things]?
6 Pour out Thy wrath upon the nations that know Thee not, and upon the kingdoms that call not upon Thy name.
[Instead of being angry with us], be angry with the people-groups that do not know/worship you! Be angry with kingdoms whose people do not pray to you,
7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his habitation.
because they have killed Israeli people and they have ruined your country.
8 Remember not against us the iniquities of our forefathers; let Thy compassions speedily come to meet us; for we are brought very low.
Do not punish us because of the sins that our ancestors committed! Be merciful to us now/quickly, because we are very discouraged.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the sake of the glory of Thy name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake.
God, you have saved/rescued [us many times], [so] help us [now]; rescue us and forgive us for having sinned in order that other people will honor you [MTY].
10 Wherefore should the nations say: 'Where is their God?' Let the avenging of Thy servants' blood that is shed be made known among the nations in our sight.
It is not right that [RHQ] other people-groups say [about us], “If their God [is very powerful], (surely he should help them/why does he not [help them])?” Allow us to see you punishing the people of other nations in return for their shedding our blood; they have killed many of us, your people.
11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come before Thee; according to the greatness of Thy power set free those that are appointed to death;
Listen to your people groaning while they are in prison, and by your great power free those whom our enemies say that they will certainly execute.
12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached Thee, O Lord.
In return for their having [often] insulted you, punish them seven times as much!
13 So we that are Thy people and the flock of Thy pasture will give Thee thanks for ever; we will tell of Thy praise to all generations.
After you do that, we, whom you [take care of like a shepherd takes care of] his sheep, will continue praising you; we will continue to praise you forever [HYP].
