Psalms 79

1 A Psalm for Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into your inheritance; they have polluted your holy temple; they have made Jerusalem a storehouse of fruits.

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

2 They have given the dead bodies of your servants [to be] food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your holy ones for the wild beasts of the earth.

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.

3 They have shed their blood as water, round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury [them].

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

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

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

5 How long, O Lord? will you be angry for ever? shall your jealousy burn like fire?

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

6 Pour out your wrath upon the heathen that have not known you, and upon the kingdoms which have not called upon your name.

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

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

for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.

8 Remember not our old transgressions; let your tender mercies speedily prevent us; for we are greatly impoverished.

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

9 Help us, O God our Saviour; for the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us; and be merciful to our sins, for your name's sake.

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.

10 Lets haply they should say amongst the heathen, Where is their God? and let the avenging of your servant's blood that has been shed be known amongst the heathen before our eyes.

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.

11 Let the groaning of the prisoners come in before you; according to the greatness of your arm preserve the sons of the slain ones.

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

12 Repay to our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached you, O Lord.

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

13 For we are your people and the sheep of your pasture; we will give you thanks for ever; we will declare your praise throughout all generations.

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