Psalms 79

1 O God, the heathen are come into your inheritance; your holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the Gentiles have entered into your inheritance; they have polluted your holy temple. They have set Jerusalem as a place to tend fruit trees.

2 The dead bodies of your servants have they given to be meat to the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth.

They have placed the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your saints for the beasts of the earth.

3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.

They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one who would bury them.

4 We are become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

We have become a disgrace to our neighbors, an object of ridicule and mockery to those who are around us.

5 How long, LORD? will you be angry for ever? shall your jealousy burn like fire?

How long, O Lord? Will you be angry until the end? Will your zeal be kindled like a fire?

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

Pour out your wrath among the Gentiles, who have not known you, and upon the kingdoms that have not invoked your name.

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

For they have devoured Jacob, and they have desolated his place.

8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let your tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

Do not remember our iniquities of the past. May your mercies quickly intercept us, for we have become exceedingly poor.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for your name’s sake.

Help us, O God, our Savior. And free us, Lord, for the glory of your name. And forgive us our sins for the sake of your name.

10 Why should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of your servants which is shed.

Let them not say among the Gentiles, “Where is their God?” And may your name become known among the nations before our eyes. For the retribution of your servants’ blood, which has been poured out:

11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you; according to the greatness of your power preserve you those that are appointed to die;

may the groans of the shackled enter before you. According to the greatness of your arm, take possession of the sons of those who have been killed.

12 And render to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached you, O Lord.

And repay our neighbors sevenfold within their sinews. It is the reproach of the same ones who brought reproach against you, O Lord.

13 So we your people and sheep of your pasture will give you thanks for ever: we will show forth your praise to all generations.

But we are your people and the sheep of your pasture: we will give thanks to you in all ages. From generation to generation, we will announce your praise.