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. Heathen, O God, have come into your land, defiling your holy temple, and laying Jerusalem in ruins.

2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowl of the heavens, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth:

They have given the bodies of your dead servants to the birds of the air to devour, and the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the field.

3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury [them].

Round about Jerusalem they have poured out their blood like water; and there was no one to bury them.

4 We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a mockery and a derision to them that are round about us.

On every side our neighbours revile us and mock us and jeer at us.

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

How long will you be angry, O Lord? Will your jealousy burn like fire forever?

6 Pour out thy fury upon the nations that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that call not upon thy name:

Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name.

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

For Jacob they devoured, they have desolated his home.

8 Remember not against us the iniquities of [our] forefathers; let thy tender mercies speedily come to meet us: for we are brought very low.

Do not remember against us our ancestors’ sins; O meet us soon with your pity, for utterly weak are we.

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

Help us, O God our saviour, for the renown of your name: for your reputation deliver us and cover over our sins.

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

Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Let revenge for the outpoured blood of your servants be shown on the heathen before our eyes.

11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thine arm, preserve those that are appointed to die;

May the groans of the prisoner come before you; free the children of death by your mighty arm.

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

Pay our neighbours back sevenfold for the scorn they have heaped upon you, O Lord.

13 And we, thy people and the sheep of thy pasture, will give thanks unto thee for ever; we will shew forth thy praise from generation to generation.

Then we, your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you for evermore, and tell your praise to all generations.