Psalms 79

1 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen have come into thy inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on 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 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be food to the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints to the beasts 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 have they shed like water around Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.

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

4 We have become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that 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? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

How long, O Lord? will you be angry for ever? shall your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy 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 laid waste his dwelling place.

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

8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily come to help us: for we are brought very low.

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

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy 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 heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by avenging the blood of thy servants which is shed.

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 thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

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 And render to our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached thee, O Lord.

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

13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will show forth thy praise 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.