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A psalm of Asaph.

79 God, an army from the nations has attacked your land.
    They have polluted your holy temple.
    They have completely destroyed Jerusalem.
They have left the dead bodies of your people.
    They have left them as food for the birds in the sky.
They have left the bodies of your faithful people.
    They have left them for the wild animals.
They have poured out the blood of your people like water.
    It is all around Jerusalem.
    No one is left to bury the dead.
We are something our neighbors joke about.
    The nations around us laugh at us and make fun of us.

Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Will it be forever?
    How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
Bring your great anger against the nations
    that don’t pay any attention to you.
Bring it against the kingdoms
    that don’t worship you.
They have swallowed up the people of Jacob.
    They have destroyed Israel’s homeland.
Don’t hold against us the sins of our people who lived before us.
    May you be quick to show us your tender love.
    We are in great need.

God our Savior, help us.
    Then glory will come to you.
Save us and forgive our sins.
    Then people will honor your name.
10 Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
Show the nations that you punish those who kill your people.
    We want to see it happen.
11 Listen to the groans of the prisoners.
    Use your strong arm
    to save people sentenced to death.

12 Lord, our neighbors have laughed at you.
    Pay them back seven times for what they have done.
13 We are your people, your very own sheep.
    We will praise you forever.
For all time to come
    we will keep on praising you.

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.