Psalms 79

1 A psalm of Asaph. Heathen, O God, have come into your land, defiling your holy temple, and laying Jerusalem in ruins.

A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen have come into thy inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

2 They have given the bodies of your dead servants to the birds of the air to devour, and the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the field.

The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be food to the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints to the beasts of the earth.

3 Round about Jerusalem they have poured out their blood like water; and there was no one to bury them.

Their blood have they shed like water around Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.

4 On every side our neighbours revile us and mock us and jeer at us.

We have become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are around us.

5 How long will you be angry, O Lord? Will your jealousy burn like fire forever?

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

6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name.

Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

7 For Jacob they devoured, they have desolated his home.

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

8 Do not remember against us our ancestors’ sins; O meet us soon with your pity, for utterly weak are we.

O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily come to help us: for we are brought very low.

9 Help us, O God our saviour, for the renown of your name: for your reputation deliver us and cover over our sins.

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.

10 Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Let revenge for the outpoured blood of your servants be shown on the heathen before our eyes.

Why should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by avenging the blood of thy servants which is shed.

11 May the groans of the prisoner come before you; free the children of death by your mighty arm.

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

12 Pay our neighbours back sevenfold for the scorn they have heaped upon you, O Lord.

And render to our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached thee, O Lord.

13 Then we, your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you for evermore, and tell your praise to all generations.

So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will show forth thy praise to all generations.