Psalm 79

World English Bible

79 God, the nations have come into your inheritance.
    They have defiled your holy temple.
    They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
² They have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky,
    the flesh of your saints to the animals of the earth.
³ They have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem.
    There was no one to bury them.
⁴ We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
    a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.
⁵ How long, Yahweh?
    Will you be angry forever?
    Will your jealousy burn like fire?
⁶ Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you,
    on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name;
⁷ for they have devoured Jacob,
    and destroyed his homeland.
⁸ Don’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us.
    Let your tender mercies speedily meet us,
    for we are in desperate need.
⁹ Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name.
    Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.
¹⁰ Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
    Let it be known among the nations, before our eyes,
    that vengeance for your servants’ blood is being poured out.
¹¹ Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you.
    According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.
¹² Pay back to our neighbors seven times into their bosom
    their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.
¹³ So we, your people and sheep of your pasture,
    will give you thanks forever.
    We will praise you forever, to all generations.