Psalms 79

1 A psalm for Asaph. O God, the heathens are come into thy inheritance, they have defiled thy holy temple: they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit.

“A psalm of Asaph.” O God! the nations have come into thine inheritance; They have polluted thy holy temple; They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins!

2 They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be meat for the fowls of the air: the flesh of thy saints for the beasts of the earth.

They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be food for the birds of heaven, The flesh of thy holy ones to the wild beasts of the earth!

3 They have poured out their blood as water, round about Jerusalem and there was none to bury them.

Their blood have they shed like water around Jerusalem, And there was none to bury them!

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

We have become the reproach of our neighbors, —The scorn and derision of those around us.

5 How long, O Lord, wilt thou be angry for ever: shall thy zeal be kindled like a fire?

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

6 Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee: and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

Pour out thy wrath on the nations which acknowledge thee not. And on the kingdoms which call not upon thy name!

7 Because they have devoured Jacob; and have laid waste his place.

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

8 Remember not our former iniquities: let thy mercies speedily prevent us, for we are become exceeding poor.

O remember not against us former iniquities; Let thy tender mercy speedily succor us,

9 Help us, O God, our saviour: and for the glory of thy name, O Lord, deliver us: and forgive us our sins for thy name’s sake:

For we are brought very low! Help us, O God of our salvation! for the honor of thy name; F or thy name's sake save us, and forgive our iniquities!

10 Lest they should say among the Gentiles: Where is their God? And let him be made known among the nations before our eyes, By the revenging the blood of thy servants, which hath been shed:

Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” May the revenging of the blood of thy servants, which hath been shed, Be manifested among the nations before our eyes!

11 Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before thee. According to the greatness of thy arm, take possession of the children of them that have been put to death.

Let the cry of the prisoner come before thee! According to the greatness of thy power preserve those that are appointed to die!

12 And render to our neighbours sevenfold in their bosom: the reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

And return sevenfold into our neighbors' bosoms The reproach with which they have reproached thee, O Lord!

13 But we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever. We will shew forth thy praise, unto generation and generation.

So shall we, thy people, and the flock of thy pasture, Give thanks to thee for ever. And show forth thy praise to all generations.