Psalms 79

1 “A psalm of Assaph.” O God! nations have entered into thy heritage; they have profaned thy holy temple; they have rendered Jerusalem heaps of ruins.

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 They have given the dead bodies of thy servants as food unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy pious ones 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 They have shed their blood like water all round about Jerusalem: and there is no one 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 neighbors, a scorn and derision to those that are round about us.

We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.

5 How long, Lord? wilt thou be indignant 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 fury over the nations that acknowledge thee not, and over the kingdoms that have not called on thy name.

Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you, on the kingdoms that do not 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 Oh remember not against us the iniquities of our fathers: make haste, let thy mercies come to our aid; for we are very miserable.

Do not 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, because of the glory of thy name; and deliver us, and atone for our sins, for the sake of thy name.

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 shall the nations say, Where is their God? let there be made known among the nations before our eyes, the vengeance for the blood of thy servants which hath been shed.

Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let it be known among 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 almighty power preserve thou those that are doomed to death;

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 recompense unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their defiance wherewith they have defied thee, O Lord.

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

13 But we thy people and the flock of thy pasture will give thanks unto thee for ever: from generation to generation will we relate thy praise.

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