Psalms 79

1 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, nations have come into Thy inheritance, They have defiled Thy holy temple, They made Jerusalem become heaps,

O god, the heathen are come into your inheritance; your holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

2 They gave the dead bodies of Thy servants Food for the fowls of the heavens, The flesh of Thy saints For the wild beast of the earth.

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

3 They have shed their blood As water round about Jerusalem, And there is none burying.

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

4 We have been a reproach to our neighbours, A scorn and a derision to our surrounders.

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

5 Till when, O Jehovah? art Thou angry for ever? Thy jealousy doth burn as fire.

How long, LORD? will you be angry for ever? shall your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour Thy fury on the nations who have not known Thee, And on kingdoms that have not called in Thy name.

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

7 For [one] hath devoured Jacob, And his habitation they have made desolate.

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

8 Remember not for us the iniquities of forefathers, Haste, let Thy mercies go before us, For we have been very weak.

O remember not against us former iniquities: let your tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, Because of the honour of Thy name, And deliver us, and cover over our sins, For Thy name's sake.

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

10 Why do the nations say, 'Where [is] their God?' Let be known among the nations before our eyes, The vengeance of the blood of Thy servants that is shed.

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

11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come in before Thee, According to the greatness of Thine arm, Leave Thou the sons of death.

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you; according to the greatness of your power preserve you those that are appointed to die;

12 And turn Thou back to our neighbours, Sevenfold unto their bosom, their reproach, Wherewith they reproached Thee, O Lord.

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

13 And we, Thy people, and the flock of Thy pasture, We give thanks to Thee to the age, To all generations we recount Thy praise!

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