¹A psalm of Asaph. O God, foreigners have invaded your chosen land; they have polluted your holy temple and turned Jerusalem into a heap of ruins. ²They have given the corpses of your servants to the birds of the sky, the flesh of your loyal followers to the beasts of the earth. ³They have made their blood flow like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them.⁴We have become an object of disdain to our neighbors; those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.⁵How long will this go on, O Lord? Will you stay angry forever? How long will your rage burn like fire? ⁶Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not pray to you. ⁷For they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his home. ⁸Do not hold us accountable for the sins of earlier generations. Quickly send your compassion our way, for we are in serious trouble.⁹Help us, O God, our deliverer! For the sake of your glorious reputation, rescue us. Forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation. ¹⁰Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Before our very eyes may the shed blood of your servants be avenged among the nations. ¹¹Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners. Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die. ¹²Pay back our neighbors in full. May they be insulted the same way they insulted you, O Lord. ¹³Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, will continually thank you. We will tell coming generations of your praiseworthy acts.