Psalms 79

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

A Psalm by Asaph. God, the nations have come into your inheritance. They have defiled your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

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

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

They have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem. There was 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 have become a reproach to our neighbours, a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.

5 How long, Yhwh? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name,

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

for they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed his homeland.

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

Don’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, for we are in desperate need.

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

Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.

10 Wherefore 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 thy servants which is shed.

Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let it be known amongst the nations, before our eyes, that vengeance for your servants’ blood is being poured out.

11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.

12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

Pay back to our neighbours seven times into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.

13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.

So we, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever. We will praise you forever, to all generations.