Psalms 79

1 A psalm of Asaph. God, foreign nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have turned Jerusalem into a heap of ruins.

“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 They have given the dead bodies of your servants as food to the birds of the skies, the bodies of your faithful people to the beasts of the earth.

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 They have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.

Their blood have they shed like water around Jerusalem, And there was none to bury them!

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

We have become the reproach of our neighbors, —The scorn and derision of those around us.

5 How long, Yahweh? Will you stay angry forever? How long will your jealous anger burn like fire?

How long, O LORD! wilt thou be angry for ever? How long shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

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

Pour out thy wrath on the nations which acknowledge thee not. And on the kingdoms which call not upon thy name!

7 For they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his villages.

For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his dwelling-place.

8 Do not hold the sins of our forefathers against us; may your merciful actions come to us, for we are very low.

O remember not against us former iniquities; Let thy tender mercy speedily succor us,

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

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 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” May the blood of your servants that was shed be avenged on the nations before our eyes.

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 May the groans of the prisoners come before you; with the greatness of your power keep the children of death alive.

Let the cry of the prisoner come before thee! According to the greatness of thy power preserve those that are appointed to die!

12 Pay back into the laps of our neighboring countries seven times as much as the insults with which they have insulted you, Lord.

And return sevenfold into our neighbors' bosoms The reproach with which they have reproached thee, O Lord!

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

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.