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79 (0) A psalm of Asaf:

(1) God, the pagans have entered your heritage.
They have defiled your holy temple
and turned Yerushalayim into rubble.
They have given the corpses of your servants
as food for the birds in the air,
yes, the flesh of those faithful to you
for the wild animals of the earth.
All around Yerushalayim
they have shed their blood like water,
and no one is left to bury them.
We suffer the taunts of our neighbors,
we are mocked and scorned by those around us.

How long, Adonai?
Will you be angry forever?
How long 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 out your name;
for they have devoured Ya‘akov
and left his home a waste.

Don’t count past iniquities against us,
but let your compassion come quickly to meet us,
for we have been brought very low.
Help us, God of our salvation,
for the sake of the glory of your name.
Deliver us, forgive our sins,
for your name’s sake.
10 Why should the nations ask,
“Where is their God?”

Let the vengeance taken on your servants’ shed blood
be known among the nations before our eyes.
11 Let the groaning of the captives come before you;
by your great strength save those condemned to death.

12 Repay our neighbors sevenfold where they can feel it
for the insults they inflicted on you, Adonai.

13 Then we, your people and the flock in your pasture,
will give you thanks forever.
From generation to generation
we will proclaim your praise.

Psalm 79

Faith amid Confusion

A psalm of Asaph.(A)

God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance,
desecrated Your holy temple,
and turned Jerusalem into ruins.(B)
They gave the corpses of Your servants
to the birds of the sky for food,
the flesh of Your godly ones
to the beasts of the earth.(C)
They poured out their blood
like water all around Jerusalem,
and there was no one to bury them.(D)
We have become an object of reproach
to our neighbors,
a source of mockery and ridicule
to those around us.(E)

How long, Yahweh? Will You be angry forever?
Will Your jealousy keep burning like fire?(F)
Pour out Your wrath on the nations
that don’t acknowledge You,
on the kingdoms that don’t call on Your name,(G)
for they have devoured Jacob
and devastated his homeland.(H)
Do not hold past sins[a] against us;
let Your compassion come to us quickly,
for we have become weak.(I)

God of our salvation, help us(J)
for the glory of Your name.
Deliver us and atone for[b] our sins,
because of Your name.(K)
10 Why should the nations ask,
“Where is their God?”(L)
Before our eyes,
let vengeance for the shed blood of Your servants
be known among the nations.(M)
11 Let the groans of the prisoners reach You;
according to Your great power,
preserve those condemned to die.(N)

12 Pay back sevenfold to our neighbors(O)
the reproach they have hurled at You, Lord.(P)
13 Then we, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture,(Q)
will thank You forever;
we will declare Your praise
to generation after generation.(R)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 79:8 Or hold the sins of past generations
  2. Psalm 79:9 Or and wipe out, or and forgive