[79:1] O God, the heathen have invaded your land. They have desecrated your holy Temple and left Jerusalem in ruins.
[79:2] They left the bodies of your people for the vultures, the bodies of your servants for wild animals to eat.
[79:3] They shed your people's blood like water; blood flowed like water all through Jerusalem, and no one was left to bury the dead.
[79:4] The surrounding nations insult us; they laugh at us and mock us.
[79:5] Lord, will you be angry with us forever? Will your anger continue to burn like fire?
[79:6] Turn your anger on the nations that do not worship you, on the people who do not pray to you.
[79:7] For they have killed your people; they have ruined your country.
[79:8] Do not punish us for the sins of our ancestors. Have mercy on us now; we have lost all hope.
[79:9] Help us, O God, and save us; rescue us and forgive our sins for the sake of your own honor.
[79:10] Why should the nations ask us, “Where is your God?” Let us see you punish the nations for shedding the blood of your servants.
[79:11] Listen to the groans of the prisoners, and by your great power free those who are condemned to die.
[79:12] Lord, pay the other nations back seven times for all the insults they have hurled at you.
[79:13] Then we, your people, the sheep of your flock, will thank you forever and praise you for all time to come.