Psalms 79

1 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations are come into thine inheritance; Thy holy temple have they defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

A psalm of Asaph. God, heathen nations have invaded your land. They have defiled your holy Temple. They have turned Jerusalem into heaps of rubble.

2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be food unto the birds of the heavens, The flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

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

3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; And there was none to bury them.

They have poured out the blood of Jerusalem's people like water all through the city; no one remains to bury the dead.

4 We are become a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and derision to them that are round about us.

We have been made a mockery before our neighbors, ridiculed and laughed at by those around us.

5 How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

How long, Lord? Will you be angry with us forever? Will your jealousy always burn like fire?

6 Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not, And upon the kingdoms that call not upon thy name.

Pour out your anger on the heathen nations that don't know you, and on those kingdoms that don't worship you!

7 For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his habitation.

For they have destroyed the descendants of Jacob, and turned our country into a wasteland.

8 Remember not against us the iniquities of our forefathers: Let thy tender mercies speedily meet us; For we are brought very low.

Don't hold the sins of our forefathers against us! Come to us quickly for we desperately need your compassion.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name’s sake.

Help us, God of our salvation, because of your wonderful character! Save us and forgive us our sins because that's the kind of person you are!

10 Wherefore should the nations say, Where is their God? Let the avenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed Be known among the nations in our sight.

Why should the heathen nations be able to say, “Where is their God?” May they experience your punishment for shedding the blood of your servants, and may we see it.

11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee: According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to death;

Listen to the groans of the prisoners; with your great power save those condemned to die.

12 And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom Their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

Pay each of these neighbors back seven times for the scorn and ridicule they directed against you, 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.

Then we your people, the flock of your pasture, will praise you forever. We will thank you for all generations to come.