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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, pagan nations have conquered your land,
    your special possession.
They have defiled your holy Temple
    and made Jerusalem a heap of ruins.
They have left the bodies of your servants
    as food for the birds of heaven.
The flesh of your godly ones
    has become food for the wild animals.
Blood has flowed like water all around Jerusalem;
    no one is left to bury the dead.
We are mocked by our neighbors,
    an object of scorn and derision to those around us.

O Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Forever?
    How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to acknowledge you—
    on kingdoms that do not call upon your name.
For they have devoured your people Israel,[a]
    making the land a desolate wilderness.
Do not hold us guilty for the sins of our ancestors!
    Let your compassion quickly meet our needs,
    for we are on the brink of despair.

Help us, O God of our salvation!
    Help us for the glory of your name.
Save us and forgive our sins
    for the honor of your name.
10 Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff,
    asking, “Where is their God?”
Show us your vengeance against the nations,
    for they have spilled the blood of your servants.
11 Listen to the moaning of the prisoners.
    Demonstrate your great power by saving those condemned to die.

12 O Lord, pay back our neighbors seven times
    for the scorn they have hurled at you.
13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
    will thank you forever and ever,
    praising your greatness from generation to generation.

Footnotes

  1. 79:7 Hebrew devoured Jacob. See note on 44:4.