Psalms
Chapter 79
This psalm is a prayer after enemy armies destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. The writer describes the dead left unburied, the ruins of the city, and the mocking of neighboring peoples. He asks God to stop being angry with Israel, to forgive their past sins, and to pay back the nations that attacked them. The psalm ends with a promise that God's people will thank him forever.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
O GOD, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
1God, foreign armies have marched into the land you gave us. They made your holy temple filthy. They turned Jerusalem into piles of rubble.
2The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
2They left the dead bodies of your servants out for the birds to eat. They gave the bodies of your faithful people to wild animals.
The KJV says the bodies were given "to be meat" for the birds. In 1611 "meat" meant food of any kind, not just animal flesh.
3Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
3They spilled blood like water all around Jerusalem. No one was left to bury the dead.
4We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
4Our neighbors look down on us. The people around us laugh at us and make fun of us.
5How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
5How long, LORD? Will you stay angry forever? Will your jealousy keep burning like a fire?
6Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
6Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that never call on your name.
7For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
7They have swallowed up the people of Jacob and destroyed the land where they lived.
8O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
8Do not hold our past sins against us. Send your kindness to meet us quickly, because we are very low.
"Let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us" does not mean stop us. In older English "prevent" meant to come before or go ahead to meet someone.
9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.
9Help us, God who saves us, so your name will be honored. Rescue us and wipe away our sins, for your name's sake.
10Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
10Why should the nations get to say, "Where is their God?" Let them see you pay them back for killing your servants.
11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
11Listen to the groaning of the prisoners. Your power is great, so keep alive the ones who are sentenced to die.
12And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
12Pay our neighbors back seven times over for the insults they threw at you, Lord.
13So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
13Then we, your people, the sheep you take care of, will thank you forever. We will tell your praise to every generation.
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