A Prayer for Deliverance (Psalm 74:1–23; Jeremiah 52:1–11)
1 UST A Levite from the clan of Asaph wrote this song. God, foreign nations have invaded the land that belongs to you. They have made your holy temple unfit for worship, and they have made Jerusalem a pile of ruins. BSB BSB: A Psalm of Asaph. The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
2 UST They left the dead bodies of the people who were faithful to you for birds and wild animals to eat. BSB BSB: 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 UST They killed so many of your people that blood flowed like water all around Jerusalem. There were not enough people still alive to bury them. BSB BSB: They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.
4 UST The people of the nations around us insult us and laugh at us. BSB BSB: We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those around us.
5 UST Yahweh, please do not stay so very angry with us, even though we sinned against you by worshiping other gods. BSB BSB: How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
6 UST The people of other nations do not honor you as God. You should be angry with them and punish them, BSB BSB: Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that refuse to call on Your name,
7 UST because they are the ones who have killed so many Israelites and destroyed the land in which they lived. BSB BSB: for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.
8 UST Please forgive the wicked things we did in the past. Quickly be merciful to us, because we are desperate. BSB BSB: Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low.
9 UST God, you are the one who saves us, so please help us! Do that for the sake of your glorious reputation. Forgive us for our sins so that people will honor you. BSB BSB: 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 UST Do not let the other nations say,“Their God was not able to help them!” We want to see you punish those nations for killing the people who serve you. BSB BSB: 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 UST Listen to the moans of your people who are now captives, and use your great power to save those who are about to die. BSB BSB: May the groans of the captives reach You; by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death.
12 UST Lord, pay back our neighbors directly, seven times over, for the insults they have spoken against you! BSB BSB: Pay back into the laps of our neighbors sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord.
13 UST Then we will always thank you. You care for us, your people, the way a shepherd cares for his sheep. Each generation of Israelites will tell their children how wonderful you are. BSB BSB: Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will thank You forever; from generation to generation we will declare Your praise.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.