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 of Assaph.” O God! nations have entered into thy heritage; they have profaned thy holy temple; they have rendered Jerusalem heaps of ruins.

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 thy servants as food unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy pious ones unto the 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 like water all round about Jerusalem: and there is no one to bury them.

4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them that are around us.

We are become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those that are round about us.

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

How long, Lord? wilt thou be indignant for ever? shall thy 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 thy fury over the nations that acknowledge thee not, and over the kingdoms that have not called on thy name.

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

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

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

Oh remember not against us the iniquities of our fathers: make haste, let thy mercies come to our aid; for we are very miserable.

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 of our salvation, because of the glory of thy name; and deliver us, and atone for our sins, for the sake of thy name.

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.

Wherefore shall the nations say, Where is their God? let there be made known among the nations before our eyes, the vengeance for the blood of thy servants which hath been shed.

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 sighing of the prisoner come before thee: according to the greatness of thy almighty power preserve thou those that are doomed to death;

12 And render to our neighbors seven-fold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached thee, O LORD.

And recompense unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their defiance wherewith they have defied thee, 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.

But we thy people and the flock of thy pasture will give thanks unto thee for ever: from generation to generation will we relate thy praise.