Psalm 79

How Long, O Lord?

A Psalm of Asaph.

1
O God, z the nations have come into your a inheritance;
they have defiled your b holy temple;
they have c laid Jerusalem in ruins.
 2 They have given d the bodies of your servants
to the birds of the heavens for food,
the flesh of your e faithful to f the beasts of the earth.
 3 They have poured out their blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there was g no one to bury them.
 4 We have become h a taunt to our neighbors,
h mocked and derided by those around us.

5 i How long, O Lord? Will you be angry j forever?
Will your k jealousy l burn like fire?
 6 m Pour out your anger on the nations
that n do not know you,
and on the kingdoms
that o do not call upon your name!
 7 For they have devoured Jacob
and laid waste his habitation.

8 p Do not remember against us q our former iniquities; 1
let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
for we are r brought very low.
 9 s Help us, O God of our salvation,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and t atone for our sins,
for your u name's sake!
 10 v Why should the nations say,
"Where is their God?"
Let w the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants
be known among the nations before our eyes!

11 Let x the groans of the prisoners come before you;
according to your great power, preserve those y doomed to die!
 12 Return z sevenfold into the a lap of our neighbors
the b taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
 13 But we your people, the c sheep of your pasture,
will d give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

  1. Cross References
    Psalms 50:1
    The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
  2. Cross References
    Lamentations 1:10
    The enemy has stretched out his hands over all her precious things; for she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary, those whom you forbade to enter your congregation.
  3. Cross References
    Exodus 15:17
    You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.
    Psalms 74:2
    Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 74:7
    They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground.
  5. Cross References
    Jeremiah 26:18
    "Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah: 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, "'Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.'
    Micah 3:12
    Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.
    2 Kings 25:9 - 10
    And he burned the house of the Lord and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down.
    2 Chronicles 36:19
    And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels.
  6. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 28:26
    And your dead body shall be food for all birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth, and there shall be no one to frighten them away.
    Jeremiah 7:33
    And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the air, and for the beasts of the earth, and none will frighten them away.
    Jeremiah 16:4
    They shall die of deadly diseases. They shall not be lamented, nor shall they be buried. They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground. They shall perish by the sword and by famine, and their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth.
    Jeremiah 19:7
    And in this place I will make void the plans of Judah and Jerusalem, and will cause their people to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of those who seek their life. I will give their dead bodies for food to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the earth.
    Jeremiah 34:20
    And I will give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their lives. Their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 50:5
    "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 74:19
    Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever.
  9. Cross References
    Jeremiah 14:16
    And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them - them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them.
    2 Kings 9:10
    And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her." Then he opened the door and fled.
  10. Cross References
    Daniel 9:16
    O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us.
    Psalms 44:13
    You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us.
  11. Cross References
    Daniel 9:16
    O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us.
    Psalms 44:13
    You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us.
  12. Cross References
    Psalms 74:10
    How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
    Psalms 80:4
    O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
  13. Cross References
    Psalms 74:1
    O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
    Psalms 85:5
    Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
    Psalms 13:1
    How long, O Lord ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 78:58
    For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols.
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 78:21
    Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel.
    Psalms 89:46
    How long, O Lord ? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?
  16. Cross References
    Jeremiah 10:25
    Pour out your wrath on the nations that know you not, and on the peoples that call not on your name, for they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.
    Zephaniah 3:8
    Therefore wait for me," declares the Lord, "for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.
  17. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 1:8
    In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 14:4
    Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord ?
  19. Cross References
    Isaiah 64:9
    Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.
  20. Cross References
    Jeremiah 11:10
    They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers.
  21. Cross References
    Psalms 116:6
    The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.
    Psalms 142:6
    Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me!
  22. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 14:11
    And Asa cried to the Lord his God, "O Lord, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.
  23. Cross References
    Psalms 65:3
    When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.
  24. Cross References
    Jeremiah 14:7
    Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name's sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you.
    Jeremiah 14:21
    Do not spurn us, for your name's sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us.
    Psalms 23:3
    He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
  25. Cross References
    Psalms 42:3
    My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?
  26. Cross References
    Psalms 94:1
    O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth!
  27. Cross References
    Psalms 102:20
    To hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die.
  28. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:31
    For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.
  29. Cross References
    Genesis 4:15
    Then the Lord said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
    Genesis 4:24
    If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold.
    Leviticus 26:21
    Then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins.
    Leviticus 26:28
    Then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins.
    Proverbs 6:31
    But if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.
  30. Cross References
    Isaiah 65:6 - 7
    Behold, it is written before me: "I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their bosom
    Jeremiah 32:18
    You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts.
  31. Cross References
    Psalms 74:10
    How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
  32. Cross References
    Psalms 74:1
    O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
  33. Cross References
    Isaiah 43:21
    The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Previous Book Next Book