Psalms 79

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

A Psalm of Asaph. The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

2 They have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your faithful to the animals of the earth.

They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.

3 Their blood they have shed like water around Jerusalem. There was no one to bury them.

They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.

4 We have become objects of contempt to our neighbors, mocked and ridiculed by those who are around us.

We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those around us.

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

How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you; on the kingdoms that do not call on your name;

Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that refuse to call on Your name,

7 For they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed his homeland.

for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.

8 Do not hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, for we are in desperate need.

Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low.

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

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for the sake of Your name.

10 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.

Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.

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

May the groans of the captives reach You; by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death.

12 Pay back to our neighbors seven times into their lap the insults with which they have insulted you, LORD.

Pay back into the laps of our neighbors sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord.

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

Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will thank You forever; from generation to generation we will declare Your praise.