79:1 O God, foreigners1 have invaded your chosen land;2
they have polluted your holy temple
and turned Jerusalem3 into a heap of ruins.
79:2 They have given the corpses of your servants
to the birds of the sky;4
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.5
79:4 We have become an object of disdain to our neighbors;
those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.6
79:5 How long will this go on, O Lord?7
Will you stay angry forever?
How long will your rage8 burn like fire?
79:6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you,9
on the kingdoms that do not pray to you!10
79:7 For they have devoured Jacob
and destroyed his home.
79:8 Do not hold us accountable for the sins of earlier generations!11
Quickly send your compassion our way,12
for we are in serious trouble!13
79:9 Help us, O God, our deliverer!
For the sake of your glorious reputation,14 rescue us!
Forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation!15
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!16
79:11 Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners!17
Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die!18
79:12 Pay back our neighbors in full!19
May they be insulted the same way they insulted you, O sovereign Master!20
79:13 Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will continually thank you.21
We will tell coming generations of your praiseworthy acts.22
Psalm 8023
For the music director; according to the shushan-eduth style;24 a psalm of Asaph.