Psalm 79

A Psalm of Asaph.

1O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.footnote a

2The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

3Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.

4We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

5How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

6Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

7For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.

8O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.footnote b

9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.

10Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.footnote c

11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;footnote dfootnote e

12And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

13So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.footnote f

A Prayer for Deliverance

A Psalm of Asaph.

1The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance;they have defiled Your holy templeand reduced Jerusalem to rubble. 2They have given the corpses of Your servantsas food to the birds of the air,the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth. 3They have poured out their blood like waterall around Jerusalem,and there is no one to bury the dead. 4We have become a reproach to our neighbors,a scorn and derision to those around us.

5How long, O LORD?Will You be angry forever?Will Your jealousy burn like fire? 6Pour out Your wrath on the nationsthat do not acknowledge You,on the kingdomsthat refuse to call on Your name, 7for they have devoured Jacoband devastated his homeland.

8Do not hold past sins against us;let Your compassion come quickly,for we are brought low. 9Help us, O God of our salvation,for the glory of Your name;deliver us and atone for our sins,for the sake of Your name. 10Why should the nations ask,“Where is their God?”Before our eyes, make known among the nationsYour vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.

11May the groans of the captives reach You;by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death. 12Pay back into the laps of our neighborssevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord. 13Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture,will thank You forever;from generation to generationwe will declare Your praise.