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. O God, the nations have come into your heritage; they have made your holy Temple unclean; they have made Jerusalem a mass of broken walls.

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 servants as food to the birds of the air, and the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth.

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

Their blood has been flowing like water round about Jerusalem; there was no one to put them in their last resting-place.

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

We are looked down on by our neighbours, we are laughed at and made sport of by those who are round us.

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

How long, O Lord? will you be angry for ever? will your wrath go on burning like fire?

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

Let your wrath be on the nations who have no knowledge of you, and on the kingdoms who have not made prayer to your name.

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

For they have taken Jacob for their meat, and made waste his house.

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 keep in mind against us the sins of our fathers; let your mercy come to us quickly, for we have been made very low.

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.

Give us help, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; take us out of danger and give us forgiveness for our sins, because of your name.

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 may the nations say, Where is their God? Let payment for the blood of your servants be made openly among the nations 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;

Let the cry of the prisoner come before you; with your strong arm make free the children of death;

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

And give punishment seven times over into the breast of our neighbours for the bitter words which they have said against 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.

So we your people, and the sheep of your flock, will give you glory for ever: we will go on praising you through all generations.