1 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations are come into thine inheritance; Thy holy temple have they defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps. 2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be food unto the birds of the heavens, The flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. 3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; And there was none to bury them. 4 We are become a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and derision to them that are round about us. 5 How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not, And upon the kingdoms that call not upon thy name. 7 For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his habitation. 8 Remember not against us the iniquities of our forefathers: Let thy tender mercies speedily meet us; For we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name’s sake. 10 Wherefore should the nations say, Where is their God? Let the avenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed Be known among the nations in our sight. 11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee: According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to death; 12 And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom Their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. 13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture Will give thee thanks for ever: We will show forth thy praise to all generations.
Psalms · American Standard Version (1901)
Psalm 79 American Standard Version (1901)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
Cross references (13)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Lamentations 1:10; 2 Chronicles 36:19; Micah 3:12; Psalm 74:1–4; Psalm 74:7–8
- 2 Jeremiah 7:33; Jeremiah 34:20; Jeremiah 16:4; Jeremiah 19:7; Deuteronomy 28:26
- 3 Jeremiah 16:4; Jeremiah 14:16; Revelation 11:9; Romans 8:36; Jeremiah 25:33
- 4 Psalm 80:6; Ezekiel 36:15; Psalm 89:41; Lamentations 5:1; Psalm 44:13–14
- 5 Psalm 89:46; Psalm 74:1; Psalm 85:5; Deuteronomy 29:20; Zephaniah 3:8
- 6 Jeremiah 10:25; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Psalm 14:4; Psalm 69:24; Psalm 53:4
- 7 Jeremiah 51:34–35; Zechariah 1:15; Isaiah 64:10–11; Isaiah 24:1–12; Jeremiah 50:7
- 8 Isaiah 64:9; Psalm 142:6; Psalm 116:6; Revelation 18:5; Psalm 21:3
- 9 Jeremiah 14:7; Psalm 25:11; 2 Chronicles 14:11; Jeremiah 14:21; Isaiah 48:9
- 10 Psalm 42:10; Exodus 6:7; Psalm 115:2; Ezekiel 39:21–22; Exodus 7:5
- 11 Psalm 102:20; Isaiah 42:7; Isaiah 33:2; Psalm 146:6–7; Exodus 2:23–24
- 12 Jeremiah 32:18; Genesis 4:15; Leviticus 26:21; Proverbs 6:31; Leviticus 26:28
- 13 Psalm 95:7; Isaiah 43:21; Psalm 100:3; Psalm 74:1; Psalm 145:4
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
This Psalm doth contain the things which are said to have been done among the old people: but the new and latter people is being admonished, to beware that it be not ungrateful regarding the blessings of God, and provoke His anger against it, whereas it ought to receive His grace....The Title thereof doth first move and engage our attention.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
Wilt Thou be angry for ever? Oh, remember not against us former iniquities;" for I felt that I was enthralled by them.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
For they who did not spare children, who slew prophets, and "shed blood as water," much more would they have showed no mercy to women.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)