Psalms

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PSALM 79^*

A Prayer for Jerusalem

1A psalm of Asaph.

I

O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;

they have defiled your holy temple;

they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.^a

2They have left the corpses of your servants

as food for the birds of the sky,

the flesh of those devoted to you for the beasts of the earth.^b

3They have poured out their blood like water

all around Jerusalem,

and no one is left to do the burying.^c

4We have become the reproach of our neighbors,

the scorn and derision of those around us.^d

II

5How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever?

Will your jealous anger keep burning like fire?^e

6Pour out your wrath on nations that do not recognize you,

on kingdoms that do not call on your name,^f

7For they have devoured Jacob,

laid waste his dwelling place.

8Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers;

let your compassion move quickly ahead of us,

for we have been brought very low.^g

III

9Help us, God our savior,

on account of the glory of your name.

Deliver us, pardon our sins

for your name’s sake.^h

10Why should the nations say,

“Where is their God?”ⁱ

Before our eyes make known to the nations

that you avenge the blood of your servants which has been poured out.^j

IV

11Let the groaning of the imprisoned come in before you;

in accord with the greatness of your arm

preserve those doomed to die.^k

12Turn back sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors

the insult with which they insulted you, Lord.^l

13Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture,

will give thanks to you forever;

from generation to generation

we will recount your praise.

* [Psalm 79] A communal lament complaining that the nations have defiled the Temple and murdered the holy people, leaving their corpses unburied (Ps 79:1–4). The occasion is probably the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 587 B.C. The people ask how long the withdrawal of divine favor will last (Ps 79:5), pray for action now (Ps 79:6–7), and admit that their own sins have brought about the catastrophe (Ps 79:8–9). They seek to persuade God to act for reasons of honor: the nations who do not call upon the Name are running amok (Ps 79:6); the divine honor is compromised (Ps 79:1, 10, 12); God’s own servants suffer (Ps 79:2–4, 11).