How Long, LORD? Help Us

Verses 1–12 · a city in ruins and unburied dead

1. ^{verse 1}The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
2. ^{verse 2}They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.
3. ^{verse 3}They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.
4. ^{verse 4}We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those around us.
5. ^{verse 5}How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
6. ^{verse 6}Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that refuse to call on Your name,
7. ^{verse 7}for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.
8. ^{verse 8}Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low.
9. ^{verse 9}Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for the sake of Your name.
10. ^{verse 10}Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.
11. ^{verse 11}May the groans of the captives reach You; by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death.
12. ^{verse 12}Pay back into the laps of our neighbors sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord.

Verse 13 · a vow of lasting praise from God's flock

1. ^{verse 13}Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will thank You forever; from generation to generation we will declare Your praise.