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The Nation Cries for Jerusalem

A psalm of Asaph [C a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; 1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17; 2 Chr. 5:12].

79 God, nations have come against your ·chosen people [L inheritance].
    They have ·ruined [profaned] your holy Temple.
    They have turned Jerusalem into ·ruins [a dump; 2 Kin. 25:9–10].
They have given the bodies of your servants as food to the ·wild birds [L birds of the sky/heavens].
They have given the ·bodies [L flesh] of ·those who worship you [your faithful ones; saints] to the wild animals [Jer. 34:20].
They have spilled blood like water all around Jerusalem.
    No one was left to bury the dead.
We are a ·joke [reproach; scorn] to the ·other nations [L residents];
    ·they [L the people around us] ·laugh [ridicule] and make fun of us.

Lord, how long?
    Will you be angry forever?
    How long will your jealousy burn like a fire?
·Be angry with [L Pour out your wrath on] the nations that do not know you
    and ·with [or on] the kingdoms that do not ·honor you [L call on your name].
They have ·gobbled up [devoured] the people of Jacob
    and ·destroyed [desolated] their ·land [pasturage].
Don’t ·punish us for our past sins [L remember our former guilt].
    Show your ·mercy [compassion] to us soon,
    because we are ·helpless [very low]!
God our ·Savior [Victor], help us
    ·so people will praise you [L for the glory of your name].
·Save [Protect] us and ·forgive [atone for] our sins
    ·so people will honor you [L for your name].
10 Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
·Tell [Inform] the other nations ·in our presence [L before our eyes]
    that you ·punish [avenge] ·those who kill your servants [L the blood of your servants that has been poured out].
11 ·Hear the moans of the prisoners [Let the groans of the prisoner come before you].
    Use your great ·power [L arm]
to save those ·sentenced [doomed] to die.

12 Repay ·those around [L into the bosom of those around] us seven times over
    for their ·insults to [reproach/scorn of] you, Lord.
13 We are your people, the sheep of your ·flock [pasture].
    We will ·thank [praise] you always;
·forever and ever [from generation to generation] we ·will praise you [L recount your praise].

Psalm 79

A psalm of Asaph.

O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;(A)
    they have defiled(B) your holy temple,
    they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.(C)
They have left the dead bodies of your servants
    as food for the birds of the sky,(D)
    the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.(E)
They have poured out blood like water
    all around Jerusalem,
    and there is no one to bury(F) the dead.(G)
We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,
    of scorn(H) and derision to those around us.(I)

How long,(J) Lord? Will you be angry(K) forever?
    How long will your jealousy burn like fire?(L)
Pour out your wrath(M) on the nations
    that do not acknowledge(N) you,
on the kingdoms
    that do not call on your name;(O)
for they have devoured(P) Jacob
    and devastated his homeland.

Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;(Q)
    may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
    for we are in desperate need.(R)
Help us,(S) God our Savior,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
    for your name’s sake.(T)
10 Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”(U)

Before our eyes, make known among the nations
    that you avenge(V) the outpoured blood(W) of your servants.
11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
    with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
12 Pay back into the laps(X) of our neighbors seven times(Y)
    the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,(Z)
    will praise you forever;(AA)
from generation to generation
    we will proclaim your praise.