The Psalms

Psalm 79

A Psalm of Asaph.

 79:1O God, the nations are come into thine inheritance;

 Thy holy temple have they defiled;

 They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

 79:2The 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.

 79:3Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem;

 And there was none to bury them.

 79:4We are become a reproach to our neighbors,

 A scoffing and derision to them that are round about us.

 79:5How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou be angry for ever?

 Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

 79:6Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not,

 And upon the kingdoms that call not upon thy name.

 79:7For they have devoured Jacob,

 And laid waste his habitation.

 79:8Remember not against us the iniquities of our forefathers:

 Let thy tender mercies speedily meet us;

 For we are brought very low.

 79:9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name;

 And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name's sake.

 79:10Wherefore 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.

 79:11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee:

 According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to death;

 79:12And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom

 Their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

 79:13So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture

 Will give thee thanks for ever:

 We will show forth thy praise to all generations.