Psalms 79

1 The nations [heathen, Gentile], O God [Elohim, the supreme God], have invaded Your inheritance [land, heritage]; they have defiled [made unclean, polluted] Your holy [set-apart, sacred] temple and reduced Jerusalem [the city of peace] to rubble [heaps, ruins]. word study 2 They have given [surrendered, entrusted] the corpses [dead bodies, carcasses] of Your servants [faithful attendants, slaves] as food [meat, sustenance] to the birds [fowl, winged creatures] of the air [heaven, the sky], the flesh [body, physical being] of Your saints [pious ones, faithful followers] to the beasts [wild animals, predators] of the earth [land, ground]. word study 3 They have poured out [shed, spilled] their blood [the liquid of life] like water [a spring or watercourse] all around [encompassing, surrounding] Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Israel], and there is no one [none, nothing] to bury [inter, lay to rest] the dead [the lifeless, the deceased]. word study 4 We have become [a mockery, ridiculed] a reproach [shame, disgrace] to our neighbors [fellow citizens, those living near us], a scorn [scoffing, contempt] and derision [laughed at, made sport of] to those [surrounding nations, people-groups] around us [encompassing, surrounding]. word study 5 How long [till when, for how much longer], O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]? Will You be angry [displeased, enraged] forever [for perpetuity, endlessly]? Will Your jealousy [strong feelings of envy or zeal] burn [consume, be kindled] like [in the manner of] fire [burning, flame]? word study 6 Pour out Your [intense, burning] wrath [rage, fury] on the nations [Gentiles, heathen] that do not [never, have not] acknowledge [know, recognize] You, on the kingdoms [dominions, rulers] that refuse [have not, will not] to call [cry out, invoke] on Your [divine, sacred] name [identity, reputation], word study 7 for [because of their actions] they have devoured [eaten up, consumed] Jacob [the descendants of Jacob, Israel] and devastated [laid waste, made desolate] his homeland [dwelling place, pasture]. word study 8 Do not [remember not, forget] hold past [former, ancestral] sins [iniquities, moral evils] against us; let Your [tender, loving] compassion [mercies, womb of love] come quickly [speedily, hasten], for we are brought [very, exceedingly] low [to languish, in a state of weakness]. word study 9 Help us, O God [Elohim, the supreme God] of our salvation [deliverance, rescue], for the glory [honor, splendor] of Your name [Your identity, character]; deliver us [rescue, snatch away] and atone [cover, forgive] for our sins [guilt, punishment], for the sake [because, on account] of Your name [Your reputation, honor]. word study 10 Why should the nations [heathen, Gentile] ask, “Where [in what place] is their God [Elohim, the one supreme God]?” Before our eyes [in our sight, visibly], make known [let it be known, reveal] among the nations [Gentile, non-Hebrew peoples] Your vengeance [avenging, punishment] for the bloodshed [shedding of blood, slaughter] of Your servants [slaves, devoted ones]. word study 11 May the [intense, sorrowful] groans [a loud cry of pain] of the [bound, captive] captives [prisoner] reach You; by the [mighty, powerful] strength of Your arm [stretched out] preserve [keep safe, rescue] those [sons or descendants] condemned [appointed, destined] to [physical death or execution] death [the end of life, separation from God]. word study 12 Pay back [seven times as much, in full measure] into the laps [bosom, intimate presence] of our neighbors [fellow citizens, those living near] sevenfold [many times over, abundantly] the reproach [shame, scorn, blasphemy] they hurled [taunted, defamed, spoke against] at You, O Lord [Adonay, the reverenced God, Master]. word study 13 Then we [a nation] Your people, the sheep [a flock of sheep or goats] of Your pasture [the act of caring for them, like a shepherd], will thank [to give thanks, praise] You forever [always, eternally]; from generation [a period of time, a group of people] to generation [a succession of people] we will declare [recount, show forth] Your praise [a song of praise, an act of worship]. word study