Day 16 — Psalm 79

HEBREW

PSALM 79

National lament

Psalm of Asaph.

God, the pagans have invaded Your heritage,

they have desecrated Your holy Temple;

they have reduced Jerusalem to a pile of ruins,

they have left the corpses of Your servants

to the birds of the air for food,

and the flesh of Your devout to the beasts of the earth.

They have shed blood like water

throughout Jerusalem, not a gravedigger left!

We are now insulted by our neighbors,

butt and laughingstock of all those around us.

How much longer will You be angry, Yahweh?

For ever?

Is Your jealousy to go on smoldering as a fire?

Pour out Your anger on the pagans

who do not acknowledge You,

and on those kingdoms

that do not call on Your name,

for they have devoured Jacob

and reduced his home to desolation.

Do not hold our ancestors' crimes against us,

in tenderness quickly intervene,

we can hardly be crushed lower;

help us, God our Savior,

for the honor of Your name;

Yahweh, blot out our sins,

rescue us for the sake of Your name.

Why should the pagans ask, ‘Where is their God?’

May we soon see the pagans learning what vengeance

You exact for Your servants' blood shed here!

May the groans of the captive reach You;

by Your mighty arm rescue those doomed to die!

Pay our neighbors sevenfold,

strike to the heart for the monstrous insult

proffered to You, Lord!

And we Your people,

the flock that You pasture,

giving You everlasting thanks,

will recite Your praises for ever and ever.

Next… Psalm 80