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 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.

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 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.

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

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

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

We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them [that are] round about 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? shall 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 upon the heathen that have not known you, and upon the kingdoms which have not called upon your name.

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

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

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

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

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 our Saviour; for the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us; and be merciful to our sins, for your name's sake.

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.

Lets haply they should say amongst the heathen, Where is their God? and let the avenging of your servant's blood that has been shed be known amongst the heathen 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 groaning of the prisoners come in before you; according to the greatness of your arm preserve the sons of the slain ones.

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

Repay to our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached 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.

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.