Psalm 79

Faith amid Confusion

A psalm of Asaph.

1 God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance,
desecrated Your holy temple,
and turned Jerusalem into ruins.
2 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.
3 They poured out their blood
like water all around Jerusalem,
and there was no one to bury [them].

4 We have become an object of reproach
to our neighbors,
a source of mockery and ridicule
to those around us.

5 How long, Yahweh? Will You be angry forever?
Will Your jealousy keep burning like fire?
6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations
that don't acknowledge You,
on the kingdoms that don't call on Your name,
7 for they have devoured Jacob
and devastated his homeland.

8 Do not hold past sins against us;
let Your compassion come to us quickly,
for we have become weak.

9 God of our salvation, help us-
for the glory of Your name.
Deliver us and atone for our sins,
because of Your name.
10 Why should the nations ask,
"Where is their God?"
Before our eyes,
let vengeance for the shed blood of Your servants
be known among the nations.

11 Let the groans of the prisoners reach You;
according to Your great power,
preserve those condemned to die.

12 Pay back sevenfold to our neighbors
the reproach they have hurled at You, Lord.

13 Then we, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture,
will thank You forever;
we will declare Your praise
to generation after generation.

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.