Psalm 79

How Long, O Lord?

¹ O GOD, the ₁ nations have come into _a Your inheritance;
Your holy temple they have defiled;
_b They have laid Jerusalem ₂ in heaps. ² _c The dead bodies of Your servants
They have given as food for the birds of the heavens,
The flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth. ³ Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem,
And there was no one to bury them. ⁴ We have become a reproach to our _d neighbors,
A scorn and derision to those who are around us.

⁵ _e How long, LORD?
Will You be angry forever?
Will Your _f jealousy burn like fire? ⁶ _g Pour out Your wrath on the ₃ nations that _h do not know You,
And on the kingdoms that _i do not call on Your name. ⁷ For they have devoured Jacob,
And laid waste his dwelling place.

⁸ _j Oh, do not remember ₄ former iniquities against us!
Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us,
For we have been brought very low. ⁹ Help us, O God of our salvation,
For the glory of Your name;
And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins,
_k For Your name's sake! ¹⁰ _l Why should the ₅ nations say,
"Where is their God?"
Let there be known among the nations in our sight
The avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.

¹¹ Let _m the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
According to the greatness of Your ₆ power
Preserve those who are appointed to die; ¹² And return to our neighbors _n sevenfold into their bosom
_o Their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord. ¹³ So _p we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture,
Will give You thanks forever;
_q We will show forth Your praise to all generations.