[1] O God, the nations around us have raided the land that belongs to You; they have defiled Your holy house and crushed Jerusalem to a heap of ruins. [2] Your servants are dead; birds of the air swoop down to pick at their remains. Scavengers of the earth eat what is left of Your saints. [3] The enemy poured out their blood; it flowed like water all over Jerusalem, and there is no one left, no one to bury what remains of them. [4] The surrounding peoples taunt us. We are nothing but a joke to them, people to be ridiculed. [5] How long can this go on, O Eternal One? Will You stay angry at us forever? Your jealousy burning like wildfire? [6] Flood these outsiders with Your wrath- they have no knowledge of You! Drown the kingdoms of this world that call on false gods and not on Your name. [7] For these nations devoured Jacob, consumed him, and turned his home into a wasteland. [8] Do not hold the sins of our ancestors against us, but send Your compassion to meet us quickly, God. We are in deep despair. [9] Help us, O God who saves us, to the honor and glory of Your name. Pull us up, deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Your name's sake. [10] Don't give these people any reason to ask, "Where is their God?" Avenge the blood spilled by Your servants. Put it on display among the nations before our very eyes. [11] May the deep groans and wistful sighs of the prisoners reach You, and by Your great power, save those condemned to die. [12] Pay back each of our invaders personally, seven times for the shame they heaped on You, O Lord! [13] Then we, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will pause and give You thanks forever; Your praise will be told by our generation to the next.
