Psalms 79

1 A Psalm of Asaph. The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

A psalm of Asaph. God, foreign nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have turned Jerusalem into a heap of ruins.

2 They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.

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

3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.

They have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.

4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those around us.

We have become a reproach for our neighbors, mocking and derision to those who are around us.

5 How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

How long, Yahweh? Will you stay angry forever? How long will your jealous anger burn like fire?

6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that refuse to call on Your name,

Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name.

7 for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.

For they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his villages.

8 Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low.

Do not hold the sins of our forefathers against us; may your merciful actions come to us, for we are very low.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for the sake of Your name.

Help us, God of our salvation, for the sake of the glory of your name; save us and forgive our sins for your name's sake.

10 Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.

Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” May the blood of your servants that was shed be avenged on the nations before our eyes.

11 May the groans of the captives reach You; by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death.

May the groans of the prisoners come before you; with the greatness of your power keep the children of death alive.

12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord.

Pay back into the laps of our neighboring countries seven times as much as the insults with which they have insulted you, Lord.

13 Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will thank You forever; from generation to generation we will declare Your praise.

So we your people and sheep of your pasture will give you thanks forever. We will tell your praises to all generations.