Psalms 79

A Lament over the Destruction of Jerusalem, and Prayer for Help.

A Psalm of Asaph.

1O God, the 1nations have 2invaded 3Your inheritance; They have defiled Your 4holy temple; They have 5laid Jerusalem in ruins.2They have given the 6dead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth.3They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem; And there was 7no one to bury them.4We have become a 8reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and derision to those around us.59How long, O Lord? Will You be angry forever? Will Your 10jealousy 11burn like fire?612Pour out Your wrath upon the nations which 13do not know You, And upon the kingdoms which 14do not call upon Your name.7For they have 15devoured Jacob And 16laid waste his 17habitation.

818Do not remember 19the iniquities of our forefathers against us; Let Your compassion come quickly to 20meet us, For we are 21brought very low.922Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of 23Your name; And deliver us and 2425forgive our sins 26for Your name’s sake.1027Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let there be known among the nations in our sight, 28Vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been shed.11Let 29the groaning of the prisoner come before You; According to the greatness of Your 30power preserve 31those who are 32doomed to die.12And return to our neighbors 33sevenfold 34into their bosom 35The 36reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.13So we Your people and the 37sheep of Your 38pasture Will 39give thanks to You forever; To all generations we will 40tell of Your praise.