Psalms 79
1 God, other people-groups have invaded your land. They have (desecrated your temple/caused your temple to be unfit for worship), and they have destroyed all the buildings in Jerusalem.
“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 [Instead of burying] the corpses of your people [whom they killed], they allowed vultures and wild animals to eat the flesh of those corpses,
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 When they killed your people, your people’s blood flowed like water through [the streets of] Jerusalem, and there was [almost] no one [HYP] left to bury their corpses.
Their blood have they shed like water around Jerusalem, And there was none to bury them!
4 The people-groups that live in countries that surround our land insult us; they laugh at us and deride/belittle us.
We have become the reproach of our neighbors, —The scorn and derision of those around us.
5 Yahweh, how long [will this continue]? Will you be angry with us forever? Will your being angry [destroy us like] a burning fire [destroys things]?
How long, O LORD! wilt thou be angry for ever? How long shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
6 [Instead of being angry with us], be angry with the people-groups that do not know/worship you! Be angry with kingdoms whose people do not pray to you,
Pour out thy wrath on the nations which acknowledge thee not. And on the kingdoms which call not upon thy name!
7 because they have killed Israeli people and they have ruined your country.
For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his dwelling-place.
8 Do not punish us because of the sins that our ancestors committed! Be merciful to us now/quickly, because we are very discouraged.
O remember not against us former iniquities; Let thy tender mercy speedily succor us,
9 God, you have saved/rescued [us many times], [so] help us [now]; rescue us and forgive us for having sinned in order that other people will honor you [MTY].
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 It is not right that [RHQ] other people-groups say [about us], “If their God [is very powerful], (surely he should help them/why does he not [help them])?” Allow us to see you punishing the people of other nations in return for their shedding our blood; they have killed many of us, your people.
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 Listen to your people groaning while they are in prison, and by your great power free those whom our enemies say that they will certainly execute.
Let the cry of the prisoner come before thee! According to the greatness of thy power preserve those that are appointed to die!
12 In return for their having [often] insulted you, punish them seven times as much!
And return sevenfold into our neighbors' bosoms The reproach with which they have reproached thee, O Lord!
13 After you do that, we, whom you [take care of like a shepherd takes care of] his sheep, will continue praising you; we will continue to praise you forever [HYP].
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.
