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 Melody of Asaph. O God, nations, Have entered thine inheritance, Have profaned thy holy temple, —Have laid Jerusalem in heaps:

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 for the birds of the heavens, The flesh of thy men of lovingkindness, Unto the wild beast of the earth:

3 Their blood have they shed like water around Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.

They have poured out their blood like water, Round about Jerusalem, With none to bury.

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

We have become, A reproach to our neighbours, —A mockery and a derision, to them who are round about us.

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

How long, O Yahweh, wilt thou be angry utterly? 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 wrath, Upon the nations that have not known thee—and, Upon the kingdoms that, on thy Name, have not called.

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

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

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

Do not remember against us former iniquities, —Haste thee, let thy compassions, come to meet us, For we have been brought very low!

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, on account of the glory of thy Name, —Rescue us then, and put a propitiatory-covering over 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 should the nations say—Where is their God? Let him be known among the nations before our eyes! [Yea! By] the avenging of 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 groaning of the prisoner, come in before thee, —According to the greatness of thine arm, Set free them who are appointed to death.

12 And render to our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached thee, O Lord.

Return, therefore, unto our neighbours—Sevenfold, into their own bosom, The reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Adonay!

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.

So, we, thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give thanks unto thee, to times age-abiding, —To generation after generation, will we recount thy praise.