Psalms 79:1-12

¹A psalm of Asaph. Heathen, O God, have come into your land, defiling your holy temple, and laying Jerusalem in ruins.

²They have given the bodies of your dead servants to the birds of the air to devour, and the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the field.

³Round about Jerusalem they have poured out their blood like water; and there was no one to bury them.

⁴On every side our neighbours revile us and mock us and jeer at us.

⁵How long will you be angry, O Lord? Will your jealousy burn like fire forever?

⁶Pour out your wrath on the nations that don't know you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name.

⁷For Jacob they devoured, they have desolated his home.

⁸Do not remember against us our ancestors' sins; O meet us soon with your pity, for utterly weak are we.

⁹Help us, O God our saviour, for the renown of your name: for your reputation deliver us and cover over our sins.

¹⁰Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let revenge for the outpoured blood of your servants be shown on the heathen before our eyes.

¹¹May the groans of the prisoner come before you; free the children of death by your mighty arm.

¹²Pay our neighbours back sevenfold for the scorn they have heaped upon you, O Lord.