Psalms 79

1 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, nations have come into Thy inheritance, They have defiled Thy holy temple, They made Jerusalem become heaps,

“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 gave the dead bodies of Thy servants Food for the fowls of the heavens, The flesh of Thy saints For the wild beast 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 As water round about Jerusalem, And there is none burying.

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

4 We have been a reproach to our neighbours, A scorn and a derision to our surrounders.

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

5 Till when, O Jehovah? art Thou angry for ever? Thy jealousy doth burn as fire.

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

6 Pour Thy fury on the nations who have not known Thee, And on kingdoms that have not called in Thy name.

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

7 For [one] hath devoured Jacob, And his habitation they have made desolate.

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

8 Remember not for us the iniquities of forefathers, Haste, let Thy mercies go before us, For we have been very weak.

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

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, Because of the honour of Thy name, And deliver us, and cover over our sins, For Thy 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 do the nations say, 'Where [is] their God?' Let be known among the nations before our eyes, The vengeance of the blood of Thy servants that is shed.

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 Let the groaning of the prisoner come in before Thee, According to the greatness of Thine arm, Leave Thou the sons of death.

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

12 And turn Thou back to our neighbours, Sevenfold unto their bosom, their reproach, Wherewith they reproached Thee, O Lord.

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

13 And we, Thy people, and the flock of Thy pasture, We give thanks to Thee to the age, To all generations we recount Thy praise!

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.