Psalm LXXIX

O God, the heathen do invade
Thy heritage, [and now] by them
Thy Temple is defil'd: On heaps
They lay [thy dear] Jerusalem.

The bodies of thy servants they
[Cast forth] have given to be meat
For ravenous fowls, and thy Saints flesh
Unto the beasts [of th' earth] to eat.

Their blood about Jerusalem
Like [common] water they have shed,
And there was none to bury them,
When they [by them] were cast out dead.

To all our neighbours that hear this,
A [jeast and] meer reproach are we;
A sorn and mocking-stock to those
That [dwelling] round about us be.

How long, Lord, (O not evermore)
Shall this thine anger [towards us] last?
Shall thy provoked jealousie
Like fire thus always [burn and] wast?

Upon the heathen pour thy wrath,
That have not known thee [and thy] fame;
And on the Kingdoms which have not
Ador'd thy [great and] holy name.

For these are they that Jacob have
[Slain and] devoured cruelly;
And made his famous dwelling-place
As ruinous [and wast] to lye.

O charge not on us former sins,
Thy tender [pardoning] mercies show;
Let them prevent us speedily,
For we are now brought [very] low.

For thy name's glory help us, Lord,
Who [art and] hast our Saviour bin;
For thy names-sake deliver us,
And purge away our [guilt and] sin.

Why say the heathen, Where's their God?
Let him to them be [better] known;
When these that shed thy servants blood
Are in our sight [judg'd and] o'rethrown,

O let the prisoners sighs ascend
Before thy [righteous] sight on high;
Preserve those by thy soveraign power,
That are [by men] design'd to dye.

And to our neighbours let seven fold
[Reward] in Judgment rendred be;
Even that reproach wherewith they have
[Falsly] O God, reproached thee.

So we thy folk and pasture-sheep
Will give thee [joyful] thanks always;
And to all ages yet to come
We will shew forth thy [glorious] praise.