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A Psalm by Asaph.

79 God, the nations have come into your inheritance.
    They have defiled your holy temple.
    They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
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.
They have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem.
    There was no one to bury them.
We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
    a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.
How long, Yahweh?
    Will you be angry forever?
    Will your jealousy burn like fire?
Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you,
    on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name;
for they have devoured Jacob,
    and destroyed his homeland.
Don’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us.
    Let your tender mercies speedily meet us,
    for we are in desperate need.
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.

Psalm 79

A Psalm of Asaph.

O God, the nations have come into [the land of Your people] Your inheritance; Your sacred temple have they defiled; they have made Jerusalem heaps of ruins.

The dead bodies of Your servants they have given as food to the birds of the heavens, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.

Their blood they have poured out like water round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.

[Because of such humiliation] we have become a taunt and reproach to our neighbors, a mocking and derision to those who are round about us.

How long, O Lord? Will You be angry forever? Shall Your jealousy [which cannot endure a divided allegiance] burn like fire?

Pour out Your wrath on the Gentile nations who do not acknowledge You, and upon the kingdoms that do not call on Your name.(A)

For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his dwelling and his pasture.

O do not [earnestly] remember against us the iniquities and guilt of our forefathers! Let Your compassion and tender mercy speedily come to meet us, for we are brought very low.

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name! Deliver us, forgive us, and purge away our sins for Your name’s sake.

10 Why should the Gentile nations say, Where is their God? Let vengeance for the blood of Your servants which is poured out be known among the nations in our sight [not delaying until some future generation].

11 Let the groaning and sighing of the prisoner come before You; according to the greatness of Your power and Your arm spare those who are appointed to die!

12 And return into the bosom of our neighbors sevenfold the taunts with which they have taunted and scoffed at You, O Lord!

13 Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; we will show forth and publish Your praise from generation to generation.