Psalms 79

A Lament for God’s People

1 God, the nations came into Your inheritance; They messed up Your holy temple; They made Jerusalem a pile of rocks.

2 They handed over the dead bodies of Your servants To the birds of the sky for food, The flesh of Your faithful to the animals of the earth.

3 They poured out their blood like water All around Jerusalem, And nobody is to bury them.

4 We are a diss to our neighbors, A joke and a clown show to those around us.

A Prayer for God’s Justice

5 How long, Lord, Will You be mad forever, Will Your jealousy burn like fire,

6 Pour Your wrath on the nations that does not know You, And on the kingdoms that does not call on Your name.

7 Because they ate up Jacob And made his home a waste spot.

8 Do not remember the sins of our dads against us; Let Your mercy hurry up and meet us, because we are brought down low.

9 Help us, God of our rescue, for the props of Your name, And rescue us and forgive our sins for the sake of Your name.

10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let the payback for the blood of Your servants that was poured out Be known among the nations in our sight.

11 Let the groaning of the prisoner get to You; With Your strong arm, save those who are doomed to die.

12 And pay back to our neighbors seven times The diss they gave You, Lord, in their shirt.

13 Then we, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, Will thank You forever; We will tell about Your praise to all generations.