Study Desk

A psalm of Asaph.^(a)

God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance, desecrated Your holy temple, and turned Jerusalem into ruins.^(b)

They gave the corpses of Your servants to the birds of the sky for food, the flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth.^(c)

They poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.^(d)

We have become an object of reproach to our neighbors, a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.^(e)

How long, Yahweh? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy keep burning like fire?^(f)

Pour out Your wrath on the nations that don't acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that don't call on Your name,^(g)

for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.^(h)

Do not hold past sins^[a] against us; let Your compassion come to us quickly, for we have become weak.⁽ⁱ⁾

God of our salvation, help us^(j)— for the glory of Your name. Deliver us and atone for^[b] our sins, because of Your name.^(k)

Why should the nations ask, "Where is their God?"^(l) Before our eyes, let vengeance for the shed blood of Your servants be known among the nations.^(m)

Let the groans of the prisoners reach You; according to Your great power, preserve those condemned to die.⁽ⁿ⁾

Pay back sevenfold to our neighbors^(o) the reproach they have hurled at You, Lord.^(p)

Then we, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture,^(q) will thank You forever; we will declare Your praise to generation after generation.^(r)