Psalms 79

1 O God, the nations have come into your heritage; they have made your holy Temple unclean; they have made Jerusalem a mass of broken walls.

1Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, a testimony for Asaph, a psalm.

2They have given the bodies of your servants as food to the birds of the air, and the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth.

2Give ear, O thou that rulest Israel: thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. Thou that sittest upon the cherubims, shine forth

3Their blood has been flowing like water round about Jerusalem; there was no one to put them in their last resting-place.

3Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses. Stir up thy might, and come to save us.

4We are looked down on by our neighbours, we are laughed at and made sport of by those who are round us.

4Convert us, O God: and shew us thy face, and we shall be saved.

5How long, O Lord? will you be angry for ever? will your wrath go on burning like fire?

5O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy servant?

6Let your wrath be on the nations who have no knowledge of you, and on the kingdoms who have not made prayer to your name.

6How long wilt thou feed us with the bread of tears: and give us for our drink tears in measure?

7For they have taken Jacob for their meat, and made waste his house.

7Thou hast made us to be a contradiction to our neighbours: and our enemies have scoffed at us.

8Do not keep in mind against us the sins of our fathers; let your mercy come to us quickly, for we have been made very low.

8O God of hosts, convert us: and shew thy face, and we shall be saved.

9Give us help, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; take us out of danger and give us forgiveness for our sins, because of your name.

9Thou hast brought a vineyard out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the Gentiles and planted it.

10Why may the nations say, Where is their God? Let payment for the blood of your servants be made openly among the nations before our eyes.

10Thou wast the guide of its journey in its sight: thou plantedst the roots thereof, and it filled the land.

11Let the cry of the prisoner come before you; with your strong arm make free the children of death;

11The shadow of it covered the hills: and the branches thereof the cedars of God.

12And give punishment seven times over into the breast of our neighbours for the bitter words which they have said against you, O Lord.

12It stretched forth its branches unto the sea, and its boughs unto the river.

13So we your people, and the sheep of your flock, will give you glory for ever: we will go on praising you through all generations.

13Why hast thou broken down the hedge thereof, so that all they who pass by the way do pluck it?

14(not in this translation)

14The boar out of the wood hath laid it waste: and a singular wild beast hath devoured it.

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15Turn again, O God of hosts, look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vineyard:

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16And perfect the same which thy right hand hath planted: and upon the son of man whom thou hast confirmed for thyself.

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17Things set on fire and dug down shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.

18(not in this translation)

18Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand: and upon the son of man whom thou hast confirmed for thyself.

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19And we depart not from thee, thou shalt quicken us: and we will call upon thy name.

20(not in this translation)

20O Lord God of hosts, convert us and shew thy face, and we shall be saved.