Read the Bible

¹ O God, foreigners have invaded your chosen land;
they have polluted your holy temple
and turned Jerusalem into a heap of ruins.
² They have given the corpses of your servants
to the birds of the sky;
the flesh of your loyal followers
to the beasts of the earth.
³ They have made their blood flow like water
all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them.
⁴ We have become an object of disdain to our neighbors;
those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.
⁵ How long will this go on, O Lord?
Will you stay angry forever?
How long will your rage burn like fire?
⁶ Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms that do not pray to you!
⁷ For they have devoured Jacob
and destroyed his home.
⁸ Do not hold us accountable for the sins of earlier generations!
Quickly send your compassion our way,
for we are in serious trouble!
⁹ Help us, O God, our deliverer!
For the sake of your glorious reputation, rescue us!
Forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation!
¹⁰ Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?"
Before our very eyes may the shed blood of your servants
be avenged among the nations!
¹¹ Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners!
Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die!
¹² Pay back our neighbors in full!
May they be insulted the same way they insulted you, O Lord!
¹³ Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will continually thank you.
We will tell coming generations of your praiseworthy acts.