Psalms 79

1 “A psalm of Assaph.” O God! nations have entered into thy heritage; they have profaned thy holy temple; they have rendered Jerusalem heaps of ruins.

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 dead bodies of thy servants as food unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy pious ones unto 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 shed their blood like water all round about Jerusalem: and there is no one to bury them.

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

4 We are become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those that are round about us.

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

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

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

6 Pour out thy fury over the nations that acknowledge thee not, and over the kingdoms that have not called on thy 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 laid waste his dwelling-place.

For they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his villages.

8 Oh remember not against us the iniquities of our fathers: make haste, let thy mercies come to our aid; for we are very miserable.

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, because of the glory of thy name; and deliver us, and atone for our sins, for the sake of thy 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 Wherefore shall the nations say, Where is their God? let there be made known among the nations before our eyes, the vengeance for the blood of thy servants which hath been shed.

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 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee: according to the greatness of thy almighty power preserve thou those that are doomed to death;

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

12 And recompense unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their defiance wherewith they have defied thee, 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 But we thy people and the flock of thy pasture will give thanks unto thee for ever: from generation to generation will we relate thy praise.

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