Psalm 79
A psalm of Asaph.
1God, an army from the nations has attacked your land.
They have polluted your holy temple.
They have completely destroyed Jerusalem.
2They have left the dead bodies of your people.
They have left them as food for the birds in the sky.
They have left the bodies of your faithful people.
They have left them for the wild animals.
3They have poured out the blood of your people like water.
It is all around Jerusalem.
No one is left to bury the dead.
4We are something our neighbors joke about.
The nations around us laugh at us and make fun of us.
5Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Will it be forever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
6Bring your great anger against the nations
that don’t pay any attention to you.
Bring it against the kingdoms
that don’t worship you.
7They have swallowed up the people of Jacob.
They have destroyed Israel’s homeland.
8Don’t hold against us the sins of our people who lived before us.
May you be quick to show us your tender love.
We are in great need.
9God our Savior, help us.
Then glory will come to you.
Save us and forgive our sins.
Then people will honor your name.
10Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Show the nations that you punish those who kill your people.
We want to see it happen.
11Listen to the groans of the prisoners.
Use your strong arm
to save people sentenced to death.
12Lord, our neighbors have laughed at you.
Pay them back seven times for what they have done.
13We are your people, your very own sheep.
We will praise you forever.
For all time to come
we will keep on praising you.
A Psalm of Asaph.
1O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.79.1 of: or, for
2The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
3Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
4We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
5How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
6Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
7For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
8O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.79.8 former…: or, the iniquities of them that were before us
9Help 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.
10Wherefore 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 thy servants which is shed.79.10 revenging: Heb. vengeance
11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;79.11 thy…: Heb. thine arm79.11 preserve…: Heb. reserve the children of death
12And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
13So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.79.13 to all…: Heb. to generation and generation
