1God, an army from the nations has attacked your land. They have polluted your holy temple. They have completely destroyed Jerusalem.2They have left the dead bodies of your people. They have left them as food for the birds in the sky. They have left the bodies of your faithful people. They have left them for the wild animals.3They have poured out the blood of your people like water. It is all around Jerusalem. No one is left to bury the dead.4We are something our neighbours joke about. The nations around us laugh at us and make fun of us.5LORD, how long will you be angry with us? Will it be for ever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?6Bring your great anger against the nations that don’t pay any attention to you. Bring it against the kingdoms that don’t worship you.7They have swallowed up the people of Jacob. They have destroyed Israel’s homeland.8Don’t hold against us the sins of our people who lived before us. May you be quick to show us your tender love. We are in great need.9God our Saviour, help us. Then glory will come to you. Save us and forgive our sins. Then people will honour your name.10Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Show the nations that you punish those who kill your people. We want to see it happen.11Listen to the groans of the prisoners. Use your strong arm to save people sentenced to death.12Lord, our neighbours have laughed at you. Pay them back seven times for what they have done.13We are your people, your very own sheep. We will praise you for ever. For all time to come we will keep on praising you.
Psalm 79
English Standard Version
How Long, O Lord?
1A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. (Ex 15:17; 2Ki 25:9; 2Ch 36:19; Ps 50:1; Ps 74:2; Ps 74:7; Jer 26:18; La 1:10; Mic 3:12)2They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth. (De 28:26; Ps 50:5; Ps 74:19; Jer 7:33; Jer 16:4; Jer 19:7; Jer 34:20)3They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. (2Ki 9:10; Jer 14:16)4We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us. (Ps 44:13; Da 9:16)5How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire? (Ps 13:1; Ps 74:1; Ps 74:10; Ps 78:21; Ps 78:58; Ps 80:4; Ps 85:5; Ps 89:46)6Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name! (Ps 14:4; Jer 10:25; Zep 3:8; 2Th 1:8)7For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.8Do not remember against us our former iniquities;[1] let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. (Ps 116:6; Ps 142:6; Isa 64:9; Jer 11:10)9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! (2Ch 14:11; Ps 23:3; Ps 65:3; Jer 14:7; Jer 14:21)10Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes! (Ps 42:3; Ps 94:1)11Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die! (1Sa 20:31; Ps 102:20)12Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord! (Ge 4:15; Ge 4:24; Le 26:21; Le 26:28; Ps 74:10; Pr 6:31; Isa 65:6; Jer 32:18)13But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise. (Ps 74:1; Isa 43:21)