Psalms 79
79
PSALM 79
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
A Psalm of Asaph.
1O God, the heathen enter'd have
thine heritage; by them
Defiled is thy house: on heaps
they laid Jerusalem.
2The bodies of thy servants they
have cast forth to be meat
To rav'nous fowls; thy dear saints' flesh
they gave to beasts to eat.
3Their blood about Jerusalem
like water they have shed;
And there was none to bury them
when they were slain and dead.
4Unto our neighbours a reproach
most base become are we;
A scorn and laughingstock to them
that round about us be.
5How long, Lord, shall thine anger last?
wilt thou still keep the same?
And shall thy fervent jealousy
burn like unto a flame?
6On heathen pour thy fury forth,
that have thee never known,
And on those kingdoms which thy name
have never call'd upon.
7For these are they who Jacob have
devoured cruelly;
And they his habitation
have caused waste to lie.
8Against us mind not former sins;
thy tender mercies show;
Let them prevent us speedily,
for we're brought very low.
9For thy name's glory help us, Lord,
who hast our Saviour been:
Deliver us; for thy name's sake,
O purge away our sin.
10Why say the heathen, Where's their God?
let him to them be known;
When those who shed thy servants' blood
are in our sight o'erthrown.
11O let the pris'ner's sighs ascend
before thy sight on high;
Preserve those in thy mighty pow'r
that are design'd to die.
12And to our neighbours' bosom cause
it sev'n-fold render'd be,
Ev'n the reproach wherewith they have,
O Lord, reproached thee.
13So we thy folk, and pasture-sheep,
shall give thee thanks always;
And unto generations all
we will shew forth thy praise.
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 79
79
Psalm 79
Asaph wrote this psalm.
God, help us! #79:1 Perhaps an Israelite prisoner wrote this psalm, after enemies had attacked Jerusalem. He asks God to punish Israel's enemies and to make prisoners free. He wants other nations to know that God is powerful.
1God, foreign nations have attacked your own land.
They have spoiled your holy temple. #79:1 When they spoiled the temple, it meant that they had made it unclean. God's people could not use it to worship him.
They have destroyed the buildings in Jerusalem.
2They have let birds come down
and eat the dead bodies of your people.
Your servants have become food for wild animals to eat.
3The blood of your servants has poured out
all over the streets of Jerusalem.
There is nobody left there
to bury their bodies.
4The nations that live near to us
do not respect us.
They laugh at us and they insult us.
5 Lord, how long will this continue?
Will you be angry with us for ever?
Will you always be angry,
like a fire that continues to burn?
6Please punish those nations
that do not respect you.
Be angry with the kingdoms
that do not pray to you.
7They have destroyed Jacob's descendants
and the land where they live. #79:7 Jacob is another name for Israel.
8Our ancestors did bad things,
but do not say that we are guilty because of that.
Be kind and send help to us quickly.
We are in a lot of trouble!
9God, help us! You are the one who can save us.
Rescue us,
so that people will respect your great name.
Forgive our sins,
so that people know you are good.
10Foreign nations are saying about us,
‘Their God cannot help them!’
That is not right!
People of those nations have murdered your servants,
so punish them for us to see.
11Listen to the prisoners who are in pain!
They are calling out for help.
Use your great power to make them free,
before their enemies kill them.
12 Lord, those countries near to us
have insulted you.
Punish them as they deserve,
seven times over!
Give them as much trouble as they have given to you.
13Then we will continue to thank you for ever.
You take care of us,
as the sheep in your field.
We will tell our children and grandchildren to praise you,
as you deserve.
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