A Dirge and a Prayer for Israel, Destroyed by Enemies

A Psalm of Asaph.

79 O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance;Your holy temple they have defiled;They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.² The dead bodies of Your servantsThey 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 neighbors,A scorn and derision to those who are around us.

⁵ How long, Lord?Will You be angry forever?Will Your jealousy burn like fire?⁶ Pour out Your wrath 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 dwelling place.

⁸ Oh, do not remember 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,For Your name’s sake!¹⁰ Why should the nations say,“Where is their God?”Let there be known among the nations in our sightThe avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.

¹¹ Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You;According to the greatness of Your powerPreserve those who are appointed to die;¹² And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosomTheir reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.

¹³ So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture,Will give You thanks forever;We will show forth Your praise to all generations.