The psalmist laments the desecration of Jerusalem by Gentiles, who have polluted the holy temple, killed God's servants, and left their bodies unburied. The psalmist asks God how long He will be angry and urges Him to pour out His wrath on the Gentiles who have not known Him. The psalmist also asks for God's mercy and forgiveness, seeking help and salvation for the sake of God's name, and requests that God avenge the blood of His servants.
1 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the Gentiles have entered into your inheritance; they have polluted your holy temple. They have set Jerusalem as a place to tend fruit trees 2 They have placed the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your saints for the beasts of the earth 3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one who would bury them 4 We have become a disgrace to our neighbors, an object of ridicule and mockery to those who are around us 5 How long, O Lord? Will you be angry until the end? Will your zeal be kindled like a fire 6 Pour out your wrath among the Gentiles, who have not known you, and upon the kingdoms that have not invoked your name 7 For they have devoured Jacob, and they have desolated his place 8 Do not remember our iniquities of the past. May your mercies quickly intercept us, for we have become exceedingly poor 9 Help us, O God, our Savior. And free us, Lord, for the glory of your name. And forgive us our sins for the sake of your name 10 Let them not say among the Gentiles, "Where is their God?" And may your name become known among the nations before our eyes. For the retribution of your servants’ blood, which has been poured out 11 may the groans of the shackled enter before you. According to the greatness of your arm, take possession of the sons of those who have been killed 12 And repay our neighbors sevenfold within their sinews. It is the reproach of the same ones who brought reproach against you, O Lord 13 But we are your people and the sheep of your pasture: we will give thanks to you in all ages. From generation to generation, we will announce your praise