Chapter 79

A Psalm of Asaph.
O God, the heathen are come¹ into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled;¹⁴ they have laid¹ Jerusalem on heaps.

The dead bodies of thy servants have they given¹ [to be] meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

Their blood have they shed¹ like water round about Jerusalem; and [there was] none to bury⁶ [them].

We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry⁴ for ever? shall thy jealousy burn⁴ like fire?

Pour out³ thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known¹ thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called¹ upon thy name.

For they have devoured¹ Jacob, and laid waste⁵² his dwelling place.

O remember⁴ not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent¹⁷ us: for we are brought very low.¹

Help³ us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver⁵⁴ us, and purge away¹⁶ our sins, for thy name's sake.

Wherefore should the heathen say,⁴ Where [is] their God? let him be known¹¹ among the heathen in our sight [by] the revenging of the blood of thy servants [which is] shed.⁷

Let the sighing of the prisoner come⁴ before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve⁵⁴ thou those that are appointed to die;

And render⁵⁴ unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached¹⁴ thee, O Lord.

So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks⁵⁵ for ever: we will shew forth¹⁷ thy praise to all generations.