Psalms 79

1 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.

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

2 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For Jacob they devoured, they have desolated his home.

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

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

9 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!

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

10 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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