Psalm 79

Psalm 79

Plea for Mercy for Jerusalem

A Psalm of Asaph.

¹O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;

they have defiled your holy temple;

they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.^*

²They have given the bodies of your servants

to the birds of the air for food,

the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth.^*

³They have poured out their blood like water

all around Jerusalem,

and there was no one to bury them.^*

⁴We have become a taunt to our neighbors,

mocked and derided by those around us.^*

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

Will your jealous wrath 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.^*

⁷For they have devoured Jacob

and laid waste his habitation.

⁸Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors;

let your compassion come speedily to meet us,

for we are brought very low.^*

⁹Help us, O God of our salvation,

for the glory of your name;

deliver us and forgive our sins,

for your name’s sake.^*

¹⁰Why should the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants

be known among the nations before our eyes.^*

¹¹Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;

according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die.^*

¹²Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors

the taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord!^*

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

will give thanks to you forever;

from generation to generation we will recount your praise.^*