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Help us, O God, our deliverer!
For the sake of your glorious reputation,[a] rescue us.
Forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation.[b]
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.[c]
11 Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners.[d]
Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die.[e]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 79:9 tn Heb “the glory of your name.” Here and in the following line “name” stands metonymically for God’s reputation.
  2. Psalm 79:9 tn Heb “your name.”
  3. Psalm 79:10 tn Heb “may it be known among the nations, to our eyes, the vengeance of the shed blood of your servants.”
  4. Psalm 79:11 tn Heb “may the painful cry of the prisoner come before you.”
  5. Psalm 79:11 tn Heb “according to the greatness of your arm leave the sons of death.” God’s “arm” here symbolizes his strength to deliver. The verbal form הוֹתֵר (hoter) is a Hiphil imperative from יָתַר (yatar, “to remain; to be left over”). Here it must mean “to leave over; to preserve.” However, it is preferable to emend the form to הַתֵּר (hatter), a Hiphil imperative from נָתַר (natar, “be free”). The Hiphil form is used in Ps 105:20 of Pharaoh freeing Joseph from prison. The phrase “sons of death” (see also Ps 102:21) is idiomatic for those condemned to die.

Help us,(A) God our Savior,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
    for your name’s sake.(B)
10 Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”(C)

Before our eyes, make known among the nations
    that you avenge(D) the outpoured blood(E) of your servants.
11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
    with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.

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