Psalms 79

1O God, the nations are come into thine inheritance; Thy holy temple have they defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

1O God, foreign nations have invaded the land you gave us; they have polluted your holy temple and turned Jerusalem into a pile of ruins.

2The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be food unto the birds of the heavens, The flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

2They have left the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, and the flesh of your godly people for the wild animals.

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

3They have poured out the blood of your people like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one left to bury the dead.

4We are become a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and derision to them that are round about us.

4Our neighbors treat us with contempt; those around us mock us and make fun of us.

5How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

5How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy continue to burn like a fire?

6Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not, And upon the kingdoms that call not upon thy name.

6Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not pray to you.

7For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his habitation.

7For they have destroyed the people of Jacob and left their land a wasteland.

8Remember not against us the iniquities of our forefathers: Let thy tender mercies speedily meet us; For we are brought very low.

8Do not hold the sins of our ancestors against us; hurry to meet us with your mercy, because we are completely overwhelmed.

9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name’s sake.

9Help us, O God our Savior, for the sake of the glory of your name; rescue us and forgive our sins to show how great you are.

10Wherefore should the nations say, Where is their God? Let the avenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed Be known among the nations in our sight.

10Why should the nations ask, 'Where is their God?' Before our very eyes, let the nations know that you punish them for spilling the blood of your servants.

11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee: According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to death;

11Listen to the groans of the prisoners; use your great power to save those who are condemned to die.

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

12Pay back our neighbors seven times over for the insults they have thrown at you, O Lord.

13So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture Will give thee thanks for ever: We will show forth thy praise to all generations.

13Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever; we will praise you to every generation that follows.