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Psalm 79

Plea for Mercy for Jerusalem

A Psalm of Asaph.
¹ O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
   they have defiled your holy temple;
   they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
² They have given the bodies of your servants
   to the birds of the air for food,
   the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth.
³ They have poured out their blood like water
   all around Jerusalem,
   and there was no one to bury them.
⁴ We have become a taunt to our neighbours,
   mocked and derided by those around us.

⁵ How long, O Lord? Will you be angry for ever?
   Will your jealous wrath burn like fire?
⁶ Pour out your anger on the nations
   that do not know you,
and on the kingdoms
   that do not call on your name.
⁷ For they have devoured Jacob
   and laid waste his habitation.

⁸ Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors;
   let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
   for we are brought very low.
⁹ Help us, O God of our salvation,
   for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and forgive our sins,
   for your name’s sake.
¹⁰ Why should the nations say,
   ‘Where is their God?’
Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants
   be known among the nations before our eyes.

¹¹ Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;
   according to your great power preserve those doomed to die.
¹² Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbours
   the taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord!
¹³ Then we your people, the flock of your pasture,
   will give thanks to you for ever;
   from generation to generation we will recount your praise.