Revised Standard Version RSV
Good News Translation GNT
1 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen have come into thy inheritance; they have defiled thy holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
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O God, the heathen have invaded your land. They have desecrated your holy Temple and left Jerusalem in ruins.
2 They have given the bodies of thy servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of thy saints to the beasts of the earth.
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They left the bodies of your people for the vultures, the bodies of your servants for wild animals to eat.
3 They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.
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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 We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those round about us.
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The surrounding nations insult us; they laugh at us and mock us.
5 How long, O LORD? Wilt thou be angry for ever? Will thy jealous wrath burn like fire?
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Lord, will you be angry with us forever? Will your anger continue to burn like fire?
6 Pour out thy anger on the nations that do not know thee, and on the kingdoms that do not call on thy name!
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Turn your anger on the nations that do not worship you, on the people who do not pray to you.
7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his habitation.
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For they have killed your people; they have ruined your country.
8 Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers; let thy compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.
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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 of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name's sake!
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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 say, "Where is their God?" Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of thy servants be known among the nations before our eyes!
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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 Let the groans of the prisoners come before thee; according to thy great power preserve those doomed to die!
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Listen to the groans of the prisoners, and by your great power free those who are condemned to die.
12 Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted thee, O Lord!
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Lord, pay the other nations back seven times for all the insults they have hurled at you.
13 Then we thy people, the flock of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever; from generation to generation we will recount thy praise.
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Then we, your people, the sheep of your flock, will thank you forever and praise you for all time to come.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.