Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 79 (MT) / Psalm 78 (LXX) is an Asaphite communal-lament over Jerusalem's destruction — almost certainly referring to the 586 BCE Babylonian destruction, though some read the 167 BCE Antiochene desecration. The psalm combines graphic-description of the catastrophe (bodies unburied, blood-poured-like-water) with imprecatory-prayer for vengeance. Verse 6 'pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call on your name' is cited at Jeremiah 10:25 (or Ps 79 borrows from Jer).
Notable Variants
79:6 'pour out anger on nations that do not know you' paralleled at Jer 10:25 (direction of borrowing unclear); 79:13 'we your people, sheep of your pasture' as covenant-flock identity; 79:2–3 bodies-unburied catastrophe detail.
Structural Notes
MT Ps 79 = LXX Ps 78. 13 verses.
A psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple; they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
'O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins' tracks MT. Temple-defiled / Jerusalem-in-ruins — 586 BCE or 167 BCE catastrophe.
They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the sky, the flesh of Your faithful ones to the animals of the earth.
'They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth' tracks MT. BODIES-UNBURIED — the horror of desecration-through-exposure. Deuteronomy 28:26's covenant-curse realized.
They poured out their blood like water around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.
'They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them' tracks MT.
We have become a disgrace to our neighbors, an object of mockery and ridicule to those around us.
'We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us' tracks MT.
How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
'How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?' tracks MT.
Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You, and on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name.
'Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call on your name!' tracks MT. // Jeremiah 10:25 almost verbatim — direction of influence debated. 2 Thess 1:8 ('when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven … inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God') echoes theologically.
and laid waste his dwelling place. For they have devoured Jacob
'For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation' tracks MT.
Do not remember against us the iniquities of the past; let Your compassion come quickly to meet us, for we are brought very low.
'Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low' tracks MT. Forgiveness-petition paired with admission of inherited-guilt.
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the sake of the glory of Your name! Deliver us and atone for our sins for the sake of Your name.
'Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!' tracks MT. FOR-YOUR-NAME'S-SAKE motive — divine-name as ground of forgiveness. Ezekiel 36:22 ('it is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name') develops.
Why should the nations say, 'Where is their God?' Let the avenging of Your servants' spilled blood be known among the nations before our eyes.
'Why should the nations say: Where is their God? Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!' tracks MT.
Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You; by the greatness of Your arm preserve those condemned to die.
'Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!' tracks MT. PRISONERS-OF-WAR intercession.
Return sevenfold to our neighbors, into their laps, the reproach with which they reproached You, O Lord.
'Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!' tracks MT.
Then we, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will give thanks to You forever; from generation to generation we will recount Your praise.
'But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise' tracks MT. SHEEP-OF-YOUR-PASTURE covenant-identity (Ps 74:1, 95:7, 100:3). 'From generation to generation' (le-dor vador / apo geneas eis genean) — liturgical-continuity.