[1] The nations have come into your inheritance, God! They’ve defiled your holy temple. They’ve made Jerusalem a bunch of ruins. [2] They’ve left your servants’ bodies as food for the birds; they’ve left the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth. [3] They’ve poured out the blood of the faithful like water all around Jerusalem, and there’s no one left to bury them. [4] We’ve become a joke to our neighbors, nothing but objects of ridicule and disapproval to those around us. [5] How long will you rage, LORD? Forever? How long will your anger burn like fire? [6] Pour out your wrath on the nations who don’t know you, on the kingdoms that haven’t called on your name. [7] They’ve devoured Jacob and demolished his pasture. [8] Don’t remember the iniquities of past generations; let your compassion hurry to meet us because we’ve been brought so low. [9] God of our salvation, help us for the glory of your name! Deliver us and cover our sins for the sake of your name! [10] Why should the nations say, “Where’s their God now?” Let vengeance for the spilled blood of your servants be known among the nations before our very eyes! [11] Let the prisoners’ groaning reach you. With your powerful arm spare those who are destined to die. [12] Pay back our neighbors seven times over, right where it hurts, for the insults they used on you, Lord. [13] We are, after all, your people and the sheep of your very own pasture. We will give you thanks forever; we will proclaim your praises from one generation to the next.
