Psalms - Chapter 79

1<A Psalm. Of Asaph.> O God, the nations have come into your heritage; they have made your holy Temple unclean; they have made Jerusalem a mass of broken walls. 2They have given the bodies of your servants as food to the birds of the air, and the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth. 3Their blood has been flowing like water round about Jerusalem; there was no one to put them in their last resting-place. 4We are looked down on by our neighbours, we are laughed at and made sport of by those who are round us. 5How long, O Lord? will you be angry for ever? will your wrath go on burning like fire? 6Let your wrath be on the nations who have no knowledge of you, and on the kingdoms who have not made prayer to your name. 7For they have taken Jacob for their meat, and made waste his house. 8Do not keep in mind against us the sins of our fathers; let your mercy come to us quickly, for we have been made very low. 9Give us help, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; take us out of danger and give us forgiveness for our sins, because of your name. 10Why may the nations say, Where is their God? Let payment for the blood of your servants be made openly among the nations before our eyes. 11Let the cry of the prisoner come before you; with your strong arm make free the children of death; 12And give punishment seven times over into the breast of our neighbours for the bitter words which they have said against you, O Lord. 13So we your people, and the sheep of your flock, will give you glory for ever: we will go on praising you through all generations.