Psalms

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 79:14). 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 79:67), and admit that their own sins have brought about the catastrophe (Ps 79:89). 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 79:24, 11).

a. [79:1] 2 Kgs 25:910; Lam 1:10.

b. [79:2] Jer 7:33.

c. [79:3] 1 Mc 7:17; Jer 14:16.

d. [79:4] Ps 44:14; 80:7; 123:34; Jb 12:4; Dn 9:16; Zep 2:8.

e. [79:5] Ps 13:2; 44:24; 89:47; Dt 4:24.

f. [79:6] Ps 14:4; Jer 10:25.

g. [79:8] Ps 142:7.

h. [79:9] Ez 20:44; 36:22.

i. [79:10] Ps 42:4; 115:2; Jl 2:17.

j. [79:10] Jl 4:21.

k. [79:11] Ps 102:21.

l. [79:12] Ps 89:5152.

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