Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
Pour out your anger on the nations that don't know you, and on the kingdoms that don't pray to you or worship you.
The writer is asking God to direct His judgment toward the nations that reject Him rather than toward His own people.
📚 Historical Context
Psalms 79 is a lament psalm attributed to Asaph, likely written during the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem in the 6th century BC, when the city was destroyed and the temple was desecrated by foreign armies. In this context, the psalmist is pleading for God's justice against the surrounding nations that had attacked Israel and ignored the God of the covenant. This reflects the ancient Israelite view of God as a defender of His people against pagan oppressors who rejected His authority.
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