USB ~ Psalms 79

A Prayer for Jerusalem

1 A psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. a

2 They 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

3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and no one is left to do the burying. c

4 We have become the reproach of our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us. d

5 How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealous anger keep burning like fire? e

6 Pour out your wrath on nations that do not recognize you, on kingdoms that do not call on your name, f

7 For they have devoured Jacob, laid waste his dwelling place.

8 Do 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

9 Help us, God our savior, on account of the glory of your name. Deliver us, pardon our sins for your name’s sake. h

10 Why 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

11 Let the groaning of the imprisoned come in before you; in accord with the greatness of your arm preserve those doomed to die. k

12 Turn back sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the insult with which they insulted you, Lord. l

13 Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Footnotes

†. 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).

79:1 2 Kgs 25:9-10; Lam 1:10.
79:2 Jer 7:33.
79:3 1 Mc 7:17; Jer 14:16.
79:4 Ps 44:14; 80:7; 123:3-4; Jb 12:4; Dn 9:16; Zep 2:8.
79:5 Ps 13:2; 44:24; 89:47; Dt 4:24.
79:6 Ps 14:4; Jer 10:25.
79:8 Ps 142:7.
79:9 Ez 20:44; 36:22.
79:10 Ps 42:4; 115:2; Jl 2:17.
79:10 Jl 4:21.
79:11 Ps 102:21.
79:12 Ps 89:51-52.