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How Long, O Yahweh?

A Psalm of Asaph.

79 O God, the (A)nations have come into (B)Your inheritance;
They have defiled Your (C)holy temple;
They have (D)laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have given the (E)dead bodies of Your slaves for food to the birds of the heavens,
The flesh of Your holy ones to the beasts of the earth.
They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem;
And there was (F)no one to bury them.
We have become a (G)reproach to our neighbors,
A mockery and derision to those around us.
(H)How long, O Yahweh? Will You be angry forever?
Will Your (I)jealousy (J)burn like fire?
(K)Pour out Your wrath upon the nations which (L)do not know You,
And upon the kingdoms which (M)do not call upon Your name.
For they have (N)devoured Jacob
And (O)laid waste his [a]abode.

(P)Do not remember our former iniquities against us;
Let Your compassion quickly (Q)approach us,
For we are (R)brought very low.
(S)Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of (T)Your name;
And deliver us and (U)atone for our sins (V)for Your name’s sake.
10 (W)Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Let it be known among the nations before our eyes:
(X)Vengeance for the blood of Your slaves which has been poured out.
11 Let (Y)the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
According to the greatness of Your [b]power preserve [c]those who are (Z)doomed to die.
12 And return to our neighbors (AA)sevenfold (AB)into their bosom
[d]The (AC)reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.
13 But as for us, as Your people and the (AD)sheep of Your pasture,
We will (AE)give thanks to You forever;
From generation to generation we will (AF)recount Your praise.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 79:7 Lit pasture
  2. Psalm 79:11 Lit arm
  3. Psalm 79:11 Lit the children of death
  4. Psalm 79:12 Lit Their

Plea for Mercy for Jerusalem

A Psalm of Asaph.

79 O God, the heathen have come into thy inheritance;
    they have defiled thy holy temple;
    they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have given the bodies of thy servants
    to the birds of the air for food,
    the flesh of thy saints to the beasts of the earth.
They have poured out their blood like water
    round about Jerusalem,
    and there was none to bury them.
We have become a taunt to our neighbors,
    mocked and derided by those round about us.

How long, O Lord? Wilt thou be angry for ever?
    Will thy jealous wrath burn like fire?
Pour out thy anger on the nations
    that do not know thee,
and on the kingdoms
    that do not call on thy name!
For they have devoured Jacob,
    and laid waste his habitation.

Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers;
    let thy compassion come speedily to meet us,
    for we are brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation,
    for the glory of thy name;
deliver us, and forgive our sins,
    for thy name’s sake!
10 Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of thy servants
    be known among the nations before our eyes!

11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before thee;
    according to thy great power preserve those doomed to die!
12 Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors
    the taunts with which they have taunted thee, O Lord!
13 Then we thy people, the flock of thy pasture,
    will give thanks to thee for ever;
    from generation to generation we will recount thy praise.