Psalm 79

PSALM 79

A Lament over the Destruction of Jerusalem, and Prayer for Help.

A Psalm of Asaph.

¹O God, the ^anations have ¹invaded ^bYour inheritance;

They have defiled Your ^choly temple;

They have ^dlaid Jerusalem in ruins.

²They have given the ^adead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens,

The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth.

³They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem;

And there was ^ano one to bury them.

⁴We have become a ^areproach to our neighbors,

A scoffing and derision to those around us.

^5aHow long, O Lord? Will You be angry forever?

Will Your ^bjealousy ^cburn like fire?

^6aPour out Your wrath upon the nations which ^bdo not know You,

And upon the kingdoms which ^cdo not call upon Your name.

⁷For they have ^adevoured Jacob

And ^blaid waste his ¹habitation.

^8aDo not remember ¹the iniquities of our forefathers against us;

Let Your compassion come quickly to ^bmeet us,

For we are ^cbrought very low.

^9aHelp us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of ^bYour name;

And deliver us and ^1cforgive our sins ^dfor Your name’s sake.

^10aWhy should the nations say, “Where is their God?”

Let there be known among the nations in our sight,

^bVengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been shed.

¹¹Let ^athe groaning of the prisoner come before You;

According to the greatness of Your ¹power preserve ²those who are doomed to die.

¹²And return to our neighbors ^asevenfold ^binto their bosom

¹The ^creproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.

¹³So we Your people and the ^asheep of Your ¹pasture

Will ^bgive thanks to You forever;

To all generations we will ^ctell of Your praise.