Psalm 78 — The Holy Bible

A psalm for Asaph.

O God, the nations entered Your inheritance;

They defiled Your holy temple;

They left Jerusalem in ruins.

They left the dead bodies of Your servants

As food for the birds of heaven,

The flesh of Your saints for the wild animals of the earth;

Their blood flowed like water around Jerusalem,

And there was no one to bury them.

We were made a disgrace to our neighbors,

A scorn and a mockery to those around us.

How long, O Lord? Will You be angry to the end?

Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You,

And on the kingdoms that did not call upon Your name;

For they devoured Jacob

And made his dwelling place desolate.

Do not remember our transgressions of old;

Let Your mercies quickly overtake us,

For we have become very poor.

Help us, O God our savior;

Because of the glory of Your name, O Lord, save us,

And be merciful to our sins because of Your name;

Let the nations never say, “Where is their God?”

And let it be known among the nations before our eyes:

There is vengeance for the shed blood of Your servants.

Let the groaning of those in prison enter before You;

According to the greatness of Your arm,

Preserve the sons of those who were killed.

Repay our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom

Their reproach by which they reviled You, O Lord.

For we are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture;

We shall give thanks to You freely and openly forever;

From generation to generation we will proclaim Your praise.