A psalm of Asaph.
79:1 O God, foreigners 2 have invaded your chosen land; 3
they have polluted your holy temple
and turned Jerusalem 4 into a heap of ruins.
79:2 They have given the corpses of your servants
to the birds of the sky; 5
the flesh of your loyal followers
to the beasts of the earth.
79:3 They have made their blood flow like water
all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them. 6
79:4 We have become an object of disdain to our neighbors;
those who live on our borders taunt and insult us. 7
79:5 How long will this go on, O Lord? 8
Will you stay angry forever?
How long will your rage 9 burn like fire?
79:6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you, 10
on the kingdoms that do not pray to you! 11
79:7 For they have devoured Jacob
and destroyed his home.
79:8 Do not hold us accountable for the sins of earlier generations! 12
Quickly send your compassion our way, 13
for we are in serious trouble! 14
79:9 Help us, O God, our deliverer!
For the sake of your glorious reputation, 15 rescue us!
Forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation! 16
79:10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Before our very eyes may the shed blood of your servants
be avenged among the nations! 17
79:11 Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners! 18
Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die! 19
79:12 Pay back our neighbors in full! 20
May they be insulted the same way they insulted you, O Lord! 21
79:13 Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will continually thank you. 22
We will tell coming generations of your praiseworthy acts. 23