Psalms 79

1 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.

A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into Thine inheritance; they have defiled Thy holy temple; they have made Jerusalem into heaps.

2 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.

They have given the dead bodies of Thy servants to be food unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of Thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

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

They have shed their blood like water round about Jerusalem, with none to bury them.

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

We are become a taunt to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

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

How long, O LORD, wilt Thou be angry for ever? How long will Thy jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name.

Pour out Thy wrath upon the nations that know Thee not, and upon the kingdoms that call not upon Thy name.

7 For they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his villages.

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

8 Do not hold the sins of our forefathers against us; may your merciful actions come to us, for we are very low.

Remember not against us the iniquities of our forefathers; let Thy compassions speedily come to meet us; for we are brought very low.

9 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.

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the sake of the glory of Thy name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake.

10 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.

Wherefore should the nations say: 'Where is their God?' Let the avenging of Thy servants' blood that is shed be made known among the nations in our sight.

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

Let the groaning of the prisoner come before Thee; according to the greatness of Thy power set free those that are appointed to death;

12 Pay back into the laps of our neighboring countries seven times as much as the insults with which they have insulted you, Lord.

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

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

So we that are Thy people and the flock of Thy pasture will give Thee thanks for ever; we will tell of Thy praise to all generations.