Psalms 79

Plea for Mercy for Jerusalem

¹O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;

they have defiled your holy temple;

they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.

²They have given the bodies of your servants

to the birds of the air for food,

the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth.

³They have poured out their blood like water

all around Jerusalem,

and there was no one to bury them.

⁴We have become a taunt to our neighbors,

mocked and derided by those around us.

⁵How long, O Lord ? Will you be angry forever?

Will your jealous wrath burn like fire?

⁶Pour out your anger on the nations

that do not know you,

and on the kingdoms

that do not call on your name.

⁷For they have devoured Jacob

and laid waste his habitation.

⁸Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors;

let your compassion come speedily to meet us,

for we are brought very low.

⁹Help us, O God of our salvation,

for the glory of your name;

deliver us, and forgive our sins,

for your name's sake.

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.

¹¹Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;

according to your great power preserve those doomed to die.

¹²Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors

the taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord!

¹³Then we your people, the flock of your pasture,

will give thanks to you forever;

from generation to generation we will recount your praise.