Psalm 79
Words: The
Psalter of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, 1887 ed.
Note: This page also has a Short Metre
version of this psalm.
1 Into thy heritage, O God,
Have heathen entrance made;
Thy holy place they have defiled,
On heaps Jerus'lem laid.
2 Thy servants' bodies they have cast
To fowls of heaven for meat;
The flesh of thy dear saints they gave
To beasts of earth to eat.
3 Their blood about Jerusalem
Like water they have shed;
And of' their number none remained
To bury them when dead.
4 And to our neighbors a reproach
Most base become are we;
A scorn and laughing-stock to them
That round about us be.
5 How long, O Lord? for evermore
Wilt thou still keep thine ire?
O how long shall thy jealousy
Burn like devouring fire?
6 On heathen pour thy fury forth,
That never have thee known,
And on those kingdoms which thy name
Have never called upon.
7 For these are they who have devoured
Thy servant Jacob's race,
And they, all waste and desolate
Have made his dwelling-place.
8 Against us mind not former sins;
Thy tender mercies show;
Let them relieve us speedily,
For we're brought very low.
9 For thy name's glory help us, Lord,
Who hast our Savior been:
Deliver us; for thy name's sake,
O purge away our sin.
10 Why say the heathen, Where's their God?
Let him to them be known;
When those who shed thy servant's blood
Are in our sight o'erthrown.
11 O let the prisoner's sighs ascend
Before thy sight on high:
Preserve those in thy mighty power
That are condemned to die.
12 And to our neighbor's bosom cause
It seven-fold rendered be,
For that reproach which in their spite,
O Lord, they cast on thee.
13 So we, thy people and thy flock,
Will ever thank thy name;
And unto generations all
We will thy praise proclaim.
1 O God, the heathen hosts
Thy heritage invade;
Thy holy house they have defiled,
In heaps Jerus'lem laid.
2 Thy servants they when dead
Have given to fowls for meat;
And thy saints' flesh they have cast forth
For beasts of earth to eat.
3 About Jerusalem,
Like water, they have shed
Thy servants' blood, and none was left
To bury them when dead.
4 Our scoffing neighbors now
With base reproach us wound;
A scorn and laughing stock we are
To all the nations round.
5 How long, O Lord, how long
Wilt thou retain thine ire?
How long shall thy fierce jealousy
Burn like devouring fire?
6 On heathen pour thy wrath
Like fierce consuming flame;
On kingdoms which have never known,
Nor called upon thy name.
7 Because they have devoured
Thy servant Jacob's race;
They have made desolate and waste
His pleasant dwelling-place.
8 Mind not our former sins;
Thy tender mercies show;
O let them visit us with speed,
We are brought very low.
9 For thy name's glory help,
Who hast our Savior been;
Deliver us for thy name's sake,
And purge away our sin.
10 Why should the heathen scoff,
And say, "Where is their God?"
Be known to them before our eyes
Avenging thy saints' blood.
11 In mercy, Lord, draw near,
And hear the pris'ner's sigh;
Preserve those in thy mighty power
That are condemned to die.
12 And to our neighbors, Lord,
Be seven-fold repaid,
To their own bosoms, that reproach
Which they on thee have laid.
13 So we thy chosen flock
Will ever praise thy name;
With thankful hearts to ages all
Thy praise we will proclaim.
