PSALM 79

¹An Asaph psalm.

    God, nations have come into Your estate,

          they have defiled Your holy temple.

                They have turned Jerusalem to ruins.

    ²They have given Your servants’ corpses

          as food to the fowl of the heavens,

                the flesh of Your faithful to the beasts of the earth.

    ³They have spilled their blood like water

          all around Jerusalem,

                and there is none to bury them.

    ⁴We have become a disgrace to our neighbors,

          scorn and contempt to all round us.

    ⁵How long, O LORD, will You rage forever,

          Your fury burn like fire?

    ⁶Pour out Your wrath on the nations

          that did not know You

    and on the kingdoms

          that did not call on Your name.

    ⁷For they have devoured Jacob

          and his habitation laid waste.

    ⁸Do not call to mind against us our forebears’ crimes.

          Quickly, may Your mercies overtake us,

                For we have sunk very low.

    ⁹Help us, our rescuing God

          for Your name’s glory,

    and save us and atone for our sins

          for the sake of Your name.

    ¹⁰Why should the nations say, “Where is their god?”

          Let it be known among the nations before our eyes—

                the vengeance for Your servants’ spilled blood.

    ¹¹Let the captive’s groan come before You,

          by Your arm’s greatness unbind those marked for death.

    ¹²And give back to our neighbors sevenfold to their bosom

          their insults that they heaped on You, Master.

    ¹³But we are Your people and the flock that You tend.

          We acclaim You forever.

                From generation to generation we recount Your praise.