Psalm 79

How Long, O Lord?

A Psalm of Asaph.

1  O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple;
they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
2  They have given the bodies of your servants
to the birds of the heavens for food,
the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.
3  They have poured out their blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there was no one to bury them.
4  We have become a taunt to our neighbors,
mocked and derided by those around us.

5  How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
6  Pour out your anger on the nations
that do not know you,
and on the kingdoms
that do not call upon your name!
7  For they have devoured Jacob
and laid waste his habitation.

8  Do not remember against us our former iniquities;t
let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
for we are brought very low.
9  Help us, O God of our salvation,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and atone for our sins,
for your name's sake!
10  Why should the nations say,
"Where is their God?"
Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants
be known among the nations before our eyes!

11  Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;
according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!
12  Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors
the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
13  But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Psalm 79

A psalm of Asaph.

1 O God, foreigners have invaded your chosen land;
they have polluted your holy temple
and turned Jerusalem into a heap of ruins.

2 They have given the corpses of your servants
to the birds of the sky;
the flesh of your loyal followers
to the beasts of the earth.

3 They have made their blood flow like water
all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them.

4 We have become an object of disdain to our neighbors;
those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.

5 How long will this go on, O Lord?
Will you stay angry forever?
How long will your rage burn like fire?

6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms that do not pray to you!

7 For they have devoured Jacob
and destroyed his home.

8 Do not hold us accountable for the sins of earlier generations!
Quickly send your compassion our way,
for we are in serious trouble!

9 Help us, O God, our deliverer!
For the sake of your glorious reputation, rescue us!
Forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation!

10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Before our very eyes may the shed blood of your servants
be avenged among the nations!

11 Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners!
Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die!

12 Pay back our neighbors in full!
May they be insulted the same way they insulted you, O Lord!

13 Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will continually thank you.
We will tell coming generations of your praiseworthy acts.