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Psalm 79

A Psalm of Asaph.

O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance;
    Your holy temple they have defiled;
    they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
The dead bodies of Your servants
    they have given to the birds of the sky for food
    and the flesh of Your faithful to the animals of the land.
Their blood they have poured out like water
    all around Jerusalem,
    and there was no one to bury them.
We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
    a scorn and derision to those who are around us.

How long, O Lord? Will You be angry forever?
    Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
Pour out Your wrath
    upon the nations who do not know You,
and upon the kingdoms
    who have not called upon Your name.
For they have devoured Jacob,
    and laid waste his dwelling place.

Do not choose to remember our former iniquities;
    let Your tender mercies come swiftly to us,
    for we are brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation,
    for the glory of Your name;
deliver us, and purge away our sins,
    for Your name’s sake.
10 Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”

May the avenging of the shed blood of Your servants
    be known among the nations before our eyes.
11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before You;
    according to the greatness of Your power
    preserve those who are appointed to die.
12 And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their lap
    the reproach that they have reproached You, O Lord.
13 But we are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture,
    and will give You thanks forever;
we will declare Your praise
    to all generations.

Psalm 79

A psalm of Asaph.

O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;(A)
    they have defiled(B) your holy temple,
    they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.(C)
They have left the dead bodies of your servants
    as food for the birds of the sky,(D)
    the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.(E)
They have poured out blood like water
    all around Jerusalem,
    and there is no one to bury(F) the dead.(G)
We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,
    of scorn(H) and derision to those around us.(I)

How long,(J) Lord? Will you be angry(K) forever?
    How long will your jealousy burn like fire?(L)
Pour out your wrath(M) on the nations
    that do not acknowledge(N) you,
on the kingdoms
    that do not call on your name;(O)
for they have devoured(P) Jacob
    and devastated his homeland.

Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;(Q)
    may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
    for we are in desperate need.(R)
Help us,(S) God our Savior,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
    for your name’s sake.(T)
10 Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”(U)

Before our eyes, make known among the nations
    that you avenge(V) the outpoured blood(W) of your servants.
11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
    with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
12 Pay back into the laps(X) of our neighbors seven times(Y)
    the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,(Z)
    will praise you forever;(AA)
from generation to generation
    we will proclaim your praise.