[1] O God, the heathen have invaded your land. They have desecrated your holy Temple and left Jerusalem in ruins. [2] They left the bodies of your people for the vultures, the bodies of your servants for wild animals to eat. [3] They shed your people's blood like water; blood flowed like water all through Jerusalem, and no one was left to bury the dead. [4] The surrounding nations insult us; they laugh at us and mock us. [5] LORD, will you be angry with us forever? Will your anger continue to burn like fire? [6] Turn your anger on the nations that do not worship you, on the people who do not pray to you. [7] For they have killed your people; they have ruined your country. [8] Do not punish us for the sins of our ancestors. Have mercy on us now; we have lost all hope. [9] Help us, O God, and save us; rescue us and forgive our sins for the sake of your own honor. [10] Why should the nations ask us, "Where is your God?" Let us see you punish the nations for shedding the blood of your servants. [11] Listen to the groans of the prisoners, and by your great power free those who are condemned to die. [12] Lord, pay the other nations back seven times for all the insults they have hurled at you. [13] Then we, your people, the sheep of your flock, will thank you forever and praise you for all time to come.
