Psalms 79

79 ¹ Our Father, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.

² They have given the corpses of your servants as food to the birds of the sky, the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth. ³ They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. ⁴ We have become an object of scorn to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.

⁵ How long, our Father? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire? ⁶ Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call on your name. ⁷ For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his homeland. ⁸ Do not hold against us the sins of our ancestors; let your tender compassion come quickly to meet us, for we have been brought very low.

⁹ Help us, our Father who saves us, for the glory of your name; rescue us and cover over our sins for your name's sake. ¹⁰ Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Before our eyes, let it be known among the nations that you bring justice for the shed blood of your servants. ¹¹ Let the groaning of the prisoner come before you; by the greatness of your arm, preserve those condemned to die.

¹² Repay our neighbors sevenfold into their laps for the scorn with which they scorned you, O Sovereign Father. ¹³ Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever; from generation to generation we will declare your praise.