A Lament for Jerusalem after Its Destruction

¹ A psalm of Asaph.¹ O God, the nations have entered your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have reduced Jerusalem to ruins.

1. The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm

² They have given the bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the heavens, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.

³ They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.

⁴ We have become a taunt to our neighbors, a derision and a scorn to those around us.

⁵ How long, O Yahweh? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn 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,

⁷ because they¹ have devoured Jacob and have laid waste his habitation.

1. Hebrew “he”

⁸ Do not remember against us former iniquities; let your mercies meet us quickly because we are brought very low.

⁹ Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; and deliver us and forgive¹ our sins for the sake of your name.

1. Hebrew “make atonement for”

¹⁰ Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let it¹ be known among the nations before our eyes, by the avenging of the blood of your servants that was poured out.

1. That is, God’s name

¹¹ Let the groaning of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your ⌞power⌟,¹ spare² the children appointed to death.

1. Literally “arm”
2. Or “leave a remnant of”

¹² And return to our neighbors sevenfold ⌞upon them⌟¹ their taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord.

1. Hebrew “into their bosom”

¹³ Then we, your people and the flock of your pasture, we will give thanks to you forever. ⌞Generation after generation⌟¹ we will tell of your praise.

1. Literally “to a generation and a generation”