Psalms 79

1 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.

“A psalm of Asaph.” O God! the nations have come into thine inheritance; They have polluted thy holy temple; They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins!

2 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.

They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be food for the birds of heaven, The flesh of thy holy ones to the wild beasts of the earth!

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

Their blood have they shed like water around Jerusalem, And there was none to 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 the reproach of our neighbors, —The scorn and derision of those around us.

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

How long, O LORD! wilt thou be angry for ever? How long shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

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

Pour out thy wrath on the nations which acknowledge thee not. And on the kingdoms which call not upon thy name!

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

For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his dwelling-place.

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

O remember not against us former iniquities; Let thy tender mercy speedily succor us,

9 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.

For we are brought very low! Help us, O God of our salvation! for the honor of thy name; F or thy name's sake save us, and forgive our iniquities!

10 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.

Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” May the revenging of the blood of thy servants, which hath been shed, Be manifested among the nations before our eyes!

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

Let the cry of the prisoner come before thee! According to the greatness of thy power preserve those that are appointed to die!

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

And return sevenfold into our neighbors' bosoms The reproach with which they have reproached thee, O Lord!

13 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.

So shall we, thy people, and the flock of thy pasture, Give thanks to thee for ever. And show forth thy praise to all generations.