Psalm 79

Modern

Literal

A Prayer for Deliverance

¹A Psalm of Asaph.

The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance;

they have defiled Your holy temple

and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

¹A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.

²They have given the corpses of Your servants

as food to the birds of the air,

the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.

²They have given the corpses of Your servants as food for the birds of the heavens, the flesh of Your holy ones for the beasts of the earth.

³They have poured out their blood like water

all around Jerusalem,

and there is no one to bury the dead.

³They have poured out their blood like the waters around Jerusalem, and there is none to bury them.

⁴We have become a reproach to our neighbors,

a scorn and derision to those around us.

⁴We have become a reproach for our neighbors, a mocking and derision for those around us.

⁵How long, O LORD?

Will You be angry forever?

Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

⁵Until when, O YHWH? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

⁶Pour out Your wrath on the nations

that do not acknowledge You,

on the kingdoms

that refuse to call on Your name,

⁶Pour out Your wrath toward the nations that have not known You, and upon the kingdoms that have not called on Your name!

⁷for they have devoured Jacob

and devastated his homeland.

⁷For they have devoured Jacob, and his habitation they have made desolate.

⁸Do not hold past sins against us;

let Your compassion come quickly,

for we are brought low.

⁸Do not remember the former iniquities against us; hurry to let Your compassion come, for we have been brought very low.

⁹Help us, O God of our salvation,

for the glory of Your name;

deliver us and atone for our sins,

for the sake of Your name.

⁹Help us, O God of our salvation! And deliver us, because of the glory of of Your name, and cover over our sins for the sake of Your name.

¹⁰Why should the nations ask,

“Where is their God?”

Before our eyes, make known among the nations

Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.

¹⁰Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let it be known among the nations before our eyes, the avenging of the blood of Your servants that was shed!

¹¹May the groans of the captives reach You;

by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death.

¹¹Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You; by the greatness of Your power, preserve the sons of death.

¹²Pay back into the laps of our neighbors

sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord.

¹²And may You return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord!

¹³Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture,

will thank You forever;

from generation to generation

we will declare Your praise.

¹³Then we, Your people, and the sheep of Your pasture, will give thanks to You forever; for generation and generation we will declare Your praise.