[1] God, some people from other nations came to fight your people. They ruined your holy Temple. They left Jerusalem in ruins. [2] They left the bodies of your servants for the wild birds to eat. They let wild animals eat the bodies of your followers. [3] Blood flowed like water all over Jerusalem. No one is left to bury the bodies. [4] The countries around us insult us. The people around us laugh at us and make fun of us. [5] LORD, will you be angry with us forever? Will your strong feelings continue to burn like a fire? [6] Turn your anger against the nations that do not know you, against the people who do not honor you as God. [7] Those nations killed Jacob's family and destroyed their land. [8] Please don't punish us for the sins of our ancestors. Hurry, show us your mercy! We need you so much! [9] Our God and Savior, help us! That will bring glory to your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the good of your name. [10] Don't give the other nations a reason to say, "Where is their God? Can't he help them?" Let us see you punish those people. Punish them for killing your servants. [11] Listen to the sad cries of the prisoners! Use your great power to free those who are sentenced to die. [12] Punish the nations around us! Pay them back seven times for what they did to us. Punish them for insulting you. [13] We are your people, the sheep of your flock. We will praise you forever. We will praise you forever and ever!
