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. O God, the nations have come into your heritage; they have made your holy Temple unclean; they have made Jerusalem a mass of broken walls.

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 bodies of your servants as food to the birds of the air, and 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.

Their blood has been flowing like water round about Jerusalem; there was no one to put them in their last resting-place.

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

We are looked down on by our neighbours, we are laughed at and made sport of by those who are round us.

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

How long, O Lord? will you be angry for ever? will your wrath go on burning 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;

Let your wrath be on the nations who have no knowledge of you, and on the kingdoms who have not made prayer to your name.

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

For they have taken Jacob for their meat, and made waste his house.

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 keep in mind against us the sins of our fathers; let your mercy come to us quickly, for we have been made very 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.

Give us help, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; take us out of danger and give us forgiveness for our sins, because 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 may the nations say, Where is their God? Let payment for the blood of your servants be made openly among the nations before our eyes.

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

Let the cry of the prisoner come before you; with your strong arm make free the children of death;

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

And give punishment seven times over into the breast of our neighbours for the bitter words which they have said against 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.

So we your people, and the sheep of your flock, will give you glory for ever: we will go on praising you through all generations.