Psalm 79

Psalm 79

A Psalm of Asaph.

¹O God, the ¹nations have come into ^aYour inheritance;

Your holy temple they have defiled;

^bThey have laid Jerusalem ²in heaps.

^2cThe dead bodies of Your servants—

They have given as food for the birds of the heavens,

The flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.

³Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem,

And there was no one to bury them.

⁴We have become a reproach to our ^dneighbors,

A scorn and derision to those who are around us.

^5eHow long, Lord?

Will You be angry forever?

Will Your ^fjealousy burn like fire?

^6gPour out Your wrath on the ³nations that ^hdo not know You,

And on the kingdoms that ⁱdo not call on Your name.

⁷For they have devoured Jacob,

And laid waste his dwelling place.

^8jOh, do not remember ⁴former iniquities against us!

Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us,

For we have been brought very low.

⁹Help us, O God of our salvation,

For the glory of Your name;

And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins,

^kFor Your name’s sake!

^10lWhy should the ⁵nations say,

“Where is their God?”

Let there be known among the nations in our sight

The avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.

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

According to the greatness of Your ⁶power

Preserve those who are appointed to die;

¹²And return to our neighbors ⁿsevenfold into their bosom

^oTheir reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.

¹³So ^pwe, Your people and sheep of Your pasture,

Will give You thanks forever;

^qWe will show forth Your praise to all generations.