Psalms 79

A Lament for Jerusalem after Its Destruction

¹O God, the nations have entered your inheritance;

they have defiled your holy temple;

they have reduced Jerusalem to ruins.

²They have given the bodies of your servants

as food for the birds of the heavens,

the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.

³They have poured out their blood like water

all around Jerusalem,

and there was none to bury them.

⁴We have become a taunt to our neighbors,

a derision and a scorn to those around us.

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

Will your jealousy 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,

⁷because they have devoured Jacob[#Hebrew “he”]

and have laid waste his habitation.

⁸Do not remember against us former iniquities;

let your mercies meet us quickly

because we are brought very low.

⁹Help us, O God of our salvation,

for the glory of your name;

and deliver us and forgive our sins

for the sake of your name.

¹⁰Why should the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

Let it be known among the nations before our eyes,

by the avenging of the blood of your servants

that was poured out.

¹¹Let the groaning of the prisoner come before you.

According to the greatness of your power,

spare the children appointed to death.

¹²And return to our neighbors sevenfold upon them[#Hebrew “into their bosom”]

their taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord.

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

we will give thanks to you forever.

Generation after generation

we will tell of your praise.