Psalm 79⁹⁷

A psalm of Asaph
79:1 O God, foreigners¹ have invaded your chosen land,²
they have polluted your holy temple,
and turned Jerusalem into a heap of ruins.
79:2 They have given the corpses of your servants
to the birds of the sky,³
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.⁴
79:4 We have become an object of disdain to our neighbors,
those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.⁵
79:5 How long will this go on, O LORD?⁶
Will you stay angry forever?
How long will your rage⁷ burn like fire?
79:6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you,⁸
on the kingdoms that do not pray to you!⁹
79:7 For they have devoured Jacob,
and destroyed his home.
79:8 Do not hold us accountable for the sins of earlier generations!¹⁰
Quickly send your compassion our way,¹¹
for we are in serious trouble!¹²
79:9 Help us, O God, our deliverer!
For the sake of your glorious reputation,¹³ rescue us!
Forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation!¹⁴
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!¹⁵
79:11 Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners!¹⁶
Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die!¹⁷
79:12 Pay back our neighbors in full!¹⁸
May they be insulted the same way they insulted you, O sovereign master.¹⁹
79:13 Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will continually thank you.²⁰
We will tell coming generations of your praiseworthy acts.²¹