Psalms

The third book of Psalms, song 79, New English Translation and King James Version

Psalm 79

New English Translation

A psalm of Asaph.

   1 O God, foreigners have invaded your chosen land; they have polluted your holy temple and turned Jerusalem into a heap of ruins.
   2 They have given the corpses of your servants to the birds of the sky; the flesh of your loyal followers to the beasts of the earth.
   3 They have made their blood flow like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them.
   4 We have become an object of disdain to our neighbors; those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.
   5 How long will this go on, O LORD? Will you stay angry forever? How long will your rage burn like fire?
   6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not pray to you!
   7 For they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his home.
   8 Do not hold us accountable for the sins of earlier generations! Quickly send your compassion our way, for we are in serious trouble!
   9 Help us, O God, our deliverer! For the sake of your glorious reputation, rescue us! Forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation!
   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!
   11 Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners! Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die!
   12 Pay back our neighbors in full! May they be insulted the same way they insulted you, O LORD!
   13 Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, will continually thank you. We will tell coming generations of your praiseworthy acts.

King James Version

A Psalm of Asaph.

   1 O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
   2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
   3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
   4 We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
   5 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
   6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
   7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
   8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
   9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
   10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
   11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
   12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
   13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.