Psalms 79

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

1A Psalm of Asaph. O God, nations have come into Thy inheritance, They have defiled Thy holy temple, They made Jerusalem become heaps,

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

2They gave the dead bodies of Thy servants Food for the fowls of the heavens, The flesh of Thy saints For the wild beast of the earth.

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

3They have shed their blood As water round about Jerusalem, And there is none burying.

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

4We have been a reproach to our neighbours, A scorn and a derision to our surrounders.

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

5Till when, O Jehovah? art Thou angry for ever? Thy jealousy doth burn as fire.

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

6Pour Thy fury on the nations who have not known Thee, And on kingdoms that have not called in Thy name.

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

7For <FI>one<Fi> hath devoured Jacob, And his habitation they have made desolate.

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

8Remember not for us the iniquities of forefathers, Haste, let Thy mercies go before us, For we have been very weak.

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

9Help us, O God of our salvation, Because of the honour of Thy name, And deliver us, and cover over our sins, For Thy name's sake.

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

10Why do the nations say, `Where <FI>is<Fi> their God?' Let be known among the nations before our eyes, The vengeance of the blood of Thy servants that is shed.

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

11Let the groaning of the prisoner come in before Thee, According to the greatness of Thine arm, Leave Thou the sons of death.

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

12And turn Thou back to our neighbours, Sevenfold unto their bosom, their reproach, Wherewith they reproached Thee, O Lord.

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

13And we, Thy people, and the flock of Thy pasture, We give thanks to Thee to the age, To all generations we recount Thy praise!

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

14(not in this translation)

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

15(not in this translation)

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

16(not in this translation)

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

17(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.

18(not in this translation)

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

19(not in this translation)

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

20(not in this translation)