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79. Psalm 79

¹ O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;
   they have defiled your holy temple,
   they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
² They have left the dead bodies of your servants
   as food for the birds of the sky,
   the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.
³ They have poured out blood like water
   all around Jerusalem,
   and there is no one to bury the dead.
⁴ We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,
   of scorn and derision to those around us.

    ⁵ How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever?
   How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
⁶ Pour out your wrath on the nations
   that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms
   that do not call on your name;
⁷ for they have devoured Jacob
   and devastated his homeland.

    ⁸ Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
   may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
   for we are in desperate need.
⁹ Help us, God our Savior,
   for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
   for your name’s sake.
¹⁰ Why should the nations say,
   “Where is their God?”

   Before our eyes, make known among the nations
   that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.
¹¹ May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
   with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
¹² Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times
   the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
¹³ Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
   will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
   we will proclaim your praise.

11. Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee. The people of God, I have no doubt, were in captivity when the Holy Spirit endited this prayer; and, therefore, the name of prisoners is applied to them all in general, because they were so shut up within the bounds of Assyria and Chaldea, that had they stirred one foot thence, they would have incurred the penalty of death. They are called the children of death; by which is meant, that they were appointed or condemned to death in respect of their captivity. This sentence, however, may not improperly be restricted to a small number who were shut up in prison under closer restraint. By this expression, it is intimated that those proud spirits who had before vaunted themselves against God, were now broken and effectually humbled. The greatness of God’s arm, that is to say, the greatness of his power, ³⁸³³⁸³ “C’est a dire, de la puissance de Dieu.” — Fr. is implored; for without a signal and extraordinary interposition on his part, no hope could be entertained of the restoration of the Church.