79 A song by Asaf.

79 God, foreign nations have come into the land you gave as an inheritance.

They have defiled your holy temple.

They have turned Yerushalem (Jerusalem) into a heap of ruins.

2 They have given the dead bodies of your servants as food to the birds in the skies—

the bodies of your faithful ones to the animals on the ground.

3 They’ve shed their blood around Yerushalem like water,

and there wasn’t anyone to bury them.

4 We have become a reproach for our neighbours—

mocked and scorned by those around us.

5 How long, Yahweh? Will you stay angry forever?

For how long will your jealous anger burn like fire?

6 Pour out your rage on the nations that don’t know you

and on the kingdoms that don’t pray to you,

7 because they’ve devoured Yakov (Jacob/Israel)

and destroyed his villages.

8 Don’t hold the sins of our ancestors against us.

May we experience your acts of mercy, because we’re very discouraged.

9 Help us, God of our salvation, for the sake of the glory of your name.

≈Save us and forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation.

10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”

Let your servants’ blood that was shed

be avenged on the nations before our eyes.

11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you.

Keep those condemned to death alive with the greatness of your power.

12 Pay back seven times as much into the laps of our neighbouring countries

as repayment for the insults with which they have insulted you, Lord.

13 So we your people, and sheep of your pasture,

will give you thanks forever.

≈We will tell your praises to all generations.