1 O God, the heathen enter'd havethine heritage; by themDefiled is thy house: on heapsthey laid Jerusalem.
2 The bodies of thy servants theyhave cast forth to be meatTo rav'nous fowls; thy dear saints' fleshthey gave to beasts to eat.
3 Their blood about Jerusalemlike water they have shed;And there was none to bury themwhen they were slain and dead.
4 Unto our neighbours a reproachmost base become are we;A scorn and laughingstock to themthat round about us be.
5 How long, Lord, shall thine anger last?wilt thou still keep the same?And shall thy fervent jealousyburn like unto a flame?
6 On heathen pour thy fury forth,that have thee never known,And on those kingdoms which thy namehave never call'd upon.
7 For these are they who Jacob havedevoured cruelly;And they his habitationhave caused waste to lie.
8 Against us mind not former sins;thy tender mercies show;Let them prevent us speedily,for we're brought very low.
9 For thy name's glory help us, Lord,who hast our Saviour been:Deliver us; for thy name's sake,O purge away our sin.
10 Why say the heathen, Where's their God?let him to them be known;When those who shed thy servants' bloodare in our sight o'erthrown.
11 O let the pris'ner's sighs ascendbefore thy sight on high;Preserve those in thy mighty pow'rthat are design'd to die.
12 And to our neighbours' bosom causeit sev'n-fold render'd be,Ev'n the reproach wherewith they have,O Lord, reproached thee.
13 So we thy folk, and pasture-sheep,shall give thee thanks always;And unto generations allwe will shew forth thy praise.