Psalm 79

Faith amid Confusion

A psalm of Asaph.†

God, the nations have invaded your inheritance,

desecrated your holy temple,

and turned Jerusalem into ruins.a

2They gave the corpses of your servants

to the birds of the sky for food,

the flesh of your faithful ones

to the beasts of the earth.a

3They poured out their blood

like water all around Jerusalem,

and there was no one to bury them.a

4We have become an object of reproach

to our neighbors,

a source of mockery and ridicule

to those around us.a

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

Will your jealousy keep burning like fire?a

6Pour out your wrath on the nations

that don’t acknowledge you,

on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name,a

7for they have devoured Jacob

and devastated his homeland.a

8Do not hold past iniquitiesA against us;

let your compassion come to us quickly,

for we have become very weak.a

9God of our salvation, help us,a

for the glory of your name.

Rescue us and atone for our sins,

for your name’s sake.b

10Why should the nations ask,

“Where is their God? ”a

Before our eyes,

let vengeance for the shed blood of your servants

be known among the nations.b

11Let the groans of the prisoners reach you;

according to your great power,

preserve those condemned to die.a

12Pay back sevenfold to our neighborsa

the reproach they have hurled at you, Lord.b

13Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture,a

will thank you forever;

we will declare your praise

to generation after generation.b