Psalm 79
Faith amid Confusion
A psalm of Asaph. b
1 God, the nations have invaded your inheritance,
desecrated your holy temple,
and turned Jerusalem into ruins. c
2 They 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. d
like water all around Jerusalem,
and there was no one to bury them. e
4 We have become an object of reproach
to our neighbors,
a source of mockery and ridicule
to those around us. f
5 How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy keep burning like fire? g
6 Pour out your wrath on the nations
that don’t acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name, h
7 for they have devoured Jacob
and devastated his homeland. i
8 Do not hold past iniquities B against us;
let your compassion come to us quickly,
for we have become very weak. j
9 God of our salvation, help us k—
for the glory of your name.
Rescue us and atone for our sins,
for your name’s sake. l
10 Why should the nations ask,
“Where is their God? ” m
Before our eyes,
let vengeance for the shed blood of your servants
be known among the nations. n
11 Let the groans of the prisoners reach you;
according to your great power,
preserve those condemned to die. o
12 Pay back sevenfold to our neighbors p
the reproach they have hurled at you, Lord. q
13 Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, r
will thank you forever;
we will declare your praise
to generation after generation. s