New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
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<A Psalm. Of Asaph.> O God, the nations have come into your heritage; they have made your holy Temple unclean; they have made Jerusalem a mass of broken walls.
2 They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth.
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They have given the bodies of your servants as food to the birds of the air, and the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth.
3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.
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Their blood has been flowing like water round about Jerusalem; there was no one to put them in their last resting-place.
4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.
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We are looked down on by our neighbours, we are laughed at and made sport of by those who are round us.
5 How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealous wrath burn like fire?
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How long, O Lord? will you be angry for ever? will your wrath go on burning like fire?
6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call on your name.
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Let your wrath be on the nations who have no knowledge of you, and on the kingdoms who have not made prayer to your name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.
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For they have taken Jacob for their meat, and made waste his house.
8 Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.
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Do not keep in mind against us the sins of our fathers; let your mercy come to us quickly, for we have been made very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name's sake.
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Give us help, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; take us out of danger and give us forgiveness for our sins, because of your name.
10 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes.
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Why may the nations say, Where is their God? Let payment for the blood of your servants be made openly among the nations before our eyes.
11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power preserve those doomed to die.
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Let the cry of the prisoner come before you; with your strong arm make free the children of death;
12 Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord!
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And give punishment seven times over into the breast of our neighbours for the bitter words which they have said against you, O Lord.
13 Then we your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
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So we your people, and the sheep of your flock, will give you glory for ever: we will go on praising you through all generations.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.