The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 3 · Psalm 79
PSALM LXXIX.
A Pſalm of Aſaph.
ARGUMENT.
This Pſalm was penned, in all probability, upon the ſame occaſion with the LXXIX. viz. The deſtruction of Jeruſalem by Nebuchadnezzar: ſee what I have ſaid there, in the Argument of that Pſalm; and it will appear altogether unlikely, that this ſhould have reſpect to the times of Antiochus Epiphanes: as many imagin, and among the reſt Theodoret: which is the more ſtrange, becauſe the ſame reaſon he gives there, why the LXXIV. Pſalm doth not belong to thoſe times (which he repeats again upon LXXX. Pſal. 17.) lies as ſtrongly againſt the application of this Pſalm to the fury and rage, wherewith that Prince fell upon the Jewiſh Nation. Whoſe miſerable calamity under Nebuchadnezzar we find bewailed by Jeremiah, who then lived (X. Jer. 25.) in the very words of the ſixth and ſeventh verſes of this Pſalm: which is ſome indication that they both belong to the ſame matter: but whether Jeremiah took them from Aſaph, or Aſaph from him, I cannot certainly determin. The latter is moſt likely; becauſe this Pſalm ſeems to have been written, after that deſolation had for ſome time continued.
We reade indeed in the Book of Maccabees (1. VII. 16, 17.) two other verſes of this Pſalm (viz. 2, 3.) applied to the ſlaughter of threeſcore of the devouter ſort of Jews; preſently after Antiochus his death. But that Authour quotes them, it is plain, as words which had been written in former days; and by him onelyonly made uſe of to his purpoſe: which was to ſhew that the ſame cruelties were, in great part, acted over again, which their Fathers had ſeen at the deſtruction of Jeruſalem.
1. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance, thy holy temple have they defiled: they have laid Jeruſalem on heaps.
1. O God, the ſupreme Judge of the world, Thou art not ignorant, we know, of our calamity, for duplicate page duplicate page it comes by thy order; but give us leave to repreſent unto thy Majeſty, the ſad condition of the people and place, which was once very dear unto Thee; for prophane Nations have not onelyonly invaded our (or rather thy) Country, to which Thou haſt a peculiar Title; but polluted thy own Houſe, which was ſeparated to thy ſervice alone; and laid it, together with Jeruſalem, in ruinous heaps.
2. The dead bodies of thy ſervants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the fleſh of thy ſaints unto the beaſts of the earth.
2. Under which thy ſervants the Prieſts, and other holy men, whom they have ſlain, could not have the honour to be buried; nor obtain the common civility of a Grave: but the dead Bodies of thoſe whom Thou loveſt, they have barbarouſly diſpoſed to be devoured by ravenous Beaſts and Birds.
3. Their bloud have they ſhed like water round about Jeruſalem: and there was none to bury them.
3. For they valued the ſhedding of their bloud, no more then the pouring out of water: which flowed in ſuch abundance about Jeruſalem; that they left not men enow alive, to take care of the Interment of the dead.
4. We are become a reproach to our neighbours: a ſcorn and deriſion to them that are round about us.
4. And we, that remain, lead a moſt deſpicable life; being not onelyonly ſcorned, and abuſed, but openly derided, and made the ſport of the Edomites and other Nations, which formerly ſtood in awe of us.
5. How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? ſhall thy jealouſie burn like fire?
5. And which is ſaddeſt of all, we have long complained of this, and find no relief; but onelyonly in our moſt paſſionate cries to Thee, O Lord: the effects of whoſe juſt anger and jealouſie, we groan under (becauſe we have forſaken Thee, and been unfaithfull to our Covenant with Thee) but hope it will not always laſt; nor proceed to make an utter end of us.
6. Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
6. Pour it out rather (in as full a meaſure, and with as little pity, as they did our bloud, Ver. 3.) upon the Babylonians: who, though they have conquered many Kingdoms, do not acknowledge Thee at all, nor aſcribe their ſucceſſes to thy Power; but to their Idols, whom they ſerve, and honour with that worſhip which is due to Thee alone.
7. For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waſt his dwelling-place.
7. They have been the Inſtruments indeed of thy vengeance, but have executed it with ſuch cruelty; that, not content with the conqueſt of us, they have ſought our total extirpation: having depopulated our Country, and made that pleaſant Land a Wilderneſs; which Thou gaveſt to Jacob and his Seed for their habitation.
8. O Remember not againſt us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies ſpeedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
8. O let not his vertue, and the Covenant Thou madeſt with him, be forgotten; when Thou reckoneſt with us for the ſins of our Fore-fathers; the puniſhment of which we beſeech Thee, that we may bear no longer: ſpeed our deliverance, Good Lord; and how unworthy ſoever we be, let thy tender compaſſion prevail with Thee, to ſave us from utter ruin; which is very near, ſo few, ſo broken and ſpent we are, unleſs ſeaſonably prevented by thy mercy.
9. Help us, O God of our ſalvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our ſins for thy names ſake.
9. Send us that ſeaſonable help, O God, from whom alone we expect it, and have heretofore very often received it; for it will tend much to the honour of thy almighty Goodneſs (which in former times was much celebrated, but of late hath been exceedingly diſparaged) to ſave us now, when none is able to preſerve us: upon that account be pleaſed to paſs by our ſins, and to interpoſe for our deliverance; leſt Thou ſuffer together with us:
10. Wherefore ſhould the heathen ſay, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our ſight, by the revenging of the bloud of thy ſervants which is ſhed.
10. While the Idolatrous Nations utter this inſolent language (which is exceeding grievous, nay inſupportable to us) If their God be ſo great in Himſelf, and ſo kind to them, as they pretend; why doth He not take their part, and appear for their deliverance? O that Thou wouldſt put them to ſilence, by taking ſuch an open, and remarkable vengeance on theſe blaſphemous Nations, for the bloud they have ſhed; that, not onelyonly we but, all the world may ſee, Thou haſt a care of us thy Servants.
11. Let the ſighing of the priſoner come before thee, according to the greatneſs of thy power: preſerve thou thoſe that are appointed to die.
11. Let the ſighs and groans of thoſe who lie in priſon, be as prevalent with Thee, as thee prayers: and magnifie thy power, by preſerving the lives of thoſe, whom they have condemned to die.
12. And render unto our neighbours ſeven fold into their boſom, their reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O LORD.
12. And when Thou haſt done with the Babylonians, reckon with our neighbours alſo, who have inſulted over us, and derided us: or rather, have ſpoken ſo reproachfully of Thee, O God, that they juſtly deſerve, not onelyonly to be paid home in their kind; but to be made ſeven times more contemptible then we have been.
13. So we thy people, and ſheep of thy paſture, will give thee thanks for ever: we will ſhew forth thy praiſe to all generations.
13. So we thy people, being conducted again to our Land, and happily reſtored to live under thy Government there; will never ceaſe to give thanks unto Thee, for thy benefits beſtowed upon us: And be carefull to tranſmit the memory of them, to thoſe, who ſhall come after us; that all future Generations may perpetuate thy praiſes.