Psalm 79

A Lament for Jerusalem after Its Destruction

79A psalm of Asaph.^a

¹O God, the nations have entered your inheritance;

they have defiled your holy temple;

they have reduced Jerusalem to ruins.

²They have given the bodies of your servants

as food for the birds of the heavens,

the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.

³They have poured out their blood like water

all around Jerusalem,

and there was none to bury them.

⁴We have become a taunt to our neighbors,

a derision and a scorn to those around us.

⁵How long, O Yahweh? Will you be angry forever?

Will your jealousy burn like fire?

⁶Pour out your anger on the nations

that do not know you,

and on the kingdoms

that do not call on your name,

⁷because they^b have devoured Jacob

and have laid waste his habitation.

⁸Do not remember against us former iniquities;

let your mercies meet us quickly

because we are brought very low.

⁹Help us, O God of our salvation,

for the glory of your name;

and deliver us and forgive^c our sins

for the sake of your name.

¹⁰Why should the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

Let it^d be known among the nations before our eyes,

by the avenging of the blood of your servants

that was poured out.

¹¹Let the groaning of the prisoner come before you.

According to the greatness of your power,^e

spare^f the children appointed to death.

¹²And return to our neighbors sevenfold upon them^g

their taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord.

¹³Then we, your people and the flock of your pasture,

we will give thanks to you forever.

Generation after generation^h

we will tell of your praise.