Psalm 79 laments the destruction of Jerusalem: “O God, the heathens are come into thy inheritance, they have defiled thy holy temple.” It turns into a humble prayer that the Church made her own in Lent: “Remember not our former iniquities… Help us, O God, our saviour: and for the glory of thy name, O Lord, deliver us: and forgive us our sins for thy name’s sake.” In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 78. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 79 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
A psalm for Asaph. O God, the heathens are come into thy inheritance, they have defiled thy holy temple: they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit.
They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be meat for the fowls of the air: the flesh of thy saints for the beasts of the earth.
They have poured out their blood as water, round about Jerusalem and there was none to bury them.
We are become a reproach to our neighbours: a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
How long, O Lord, wilt thou be angry for ever: shall thy zeal be kindled like a fire?
Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee: and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
Because they have devoured Jacob; and have laid waste his place.
Remember not our former iniquities: let thy mercies speedily prevent us, for we are become exceeding poor.
Help us, O God, our saviour: and for the glory of thy name, O Lord, deliver us: and forgive us our sins for thy name’s sake:
Lest they should say among the Gentiles: Where is their God? And let him be made known among the nations before our eyes, By the revenging the blood of thy servants, which hath been shed:
Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before thee. According to the greatness of thy arm, take possession of the children of them that have been put to death.
And render to our neighbours sevenfold in their bosom: the reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
But we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever. We will shew forth thy praise, unto generation and generation.
Psalm 79 or Psalm 78?
The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 78 is Psalm 79 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Deus, venerunt gentes in hereditatem tuam. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- A ruined city: the Temple defiled, the dead unburied.
- Shame before the nations: “We are become a reproach to our neighbours.”
- Not our merits, but God’s name: “for the glory of thy name, O Lord, deliver us.”
- Forgiveness: “Remember not our former iniquities: let thy mercies speedily prevent us.”
- Thanksgiving after rescue: “we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever.”
How the Church uses Psalm 79
- In Lent, in the traditional Roman Missal, the tract Domine, non secundum peccata nostra sung on Ash Wednesday and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent used these verses: “Remember not our former iniquities… Help us, O God, our saviour.” See Ash Wednesday and Lent.
- In the Liturgy of the Hours.
A prayer with Psalm 79
Written for this page:
Lord, do not remember our past sins; let your mercy come quickly to meet us.
Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name.
Forgive us our sins for your name’s sake.
We are your people, the sheep of your pasture; we will thank you for ever. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Where is “Remember not our former iniquities”?
Psalm 79:8 (78:8 in the Douay-Rheims).
How is Psalm 79 used in Lent?
Its verses 8–9 formed the traditional Lenten tract “Domine, non secundum peccata nostra,” sung on Ash Wednesday and other Lenten weekdays.
More psalms and prayers
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 78 (79), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.