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A Prayer to Bring Israel Back

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies of the Agreement.” A psalm of Asaph [C a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; 1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17; 2 Chr. 5:12].

80 Shepherd of Israel, ·listen to us [give ear].
    You ·lead [guide] the people of Joseph [C the northern empire of Israel] like a flock.
You sit on your throne between the ·gold creatures with wings [L cherubim; Ex. 25:18–22; 1 Kin. 8:7].
·Show your greatness [L Shine forth]     to the people of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
·Use [Arouse] your strength,
    and come to ·save us [give us victory].

God, ·take us back [restore us].
·Show us your kindness [L Make your face shine on us; 31:16; 67:1; Num. 6:24–26] so we can ·be saved [have victory].

Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts],
    how long will you ·be angry [L smoke/fume at us]
    at the prayers of your people?
You have fed your people ·with tears [L the bread/food of tears];
    you have made them drink ·many tears [tears by measure/L the third].
You made ·those around us fight over us [L us the strife of our neighbors],
    and our enemies ·make fun of [ridicule] us.

God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], ·take us back [restore us].
·Show us your kindness [L Make your face shine on us; 31:16; 67:1; Num. 6:24–26] so we can ·be saved [have victory].

You brought ·us out of Egypt as if we were a vine [L a vine out of Egypt; Gen. 49:22; Is. 5:1–7; 27:2–6; Jer. 2:21; 12:10; Ezek. 15:1–8; 19:10–14; Hos. 10:1].
    You ·forced out [dispossessed] other nations and planted us in the land.
You cleared the ground for us.
    We took root and filled the land.
10 We covered the mountains with our shade.
    We had branches like the mighty cedar tree.
11 Our branches reached the Mediterranean Sea,
    and our shoots went to the Euphrates River.

12 So why did you ·pull [break] down our walls?
    Now everyone who passes by ·steals from us [picks our fruit].
13 Like ·wild pigs [L boars of the forest] they ·walk over us [ravage us; gobble us up];
    like ·wild animals [L creatures of the field] they feed on us.

14 God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], ·come back [restore us].
    Look down from heaven and see.
Take care of us, your vine.
15 You planted this ·shoot [root] with your own hands
    and strengthened this child [C the king].
16 Now it is cut down and burned with fire;
    you destroyed us by ·your angry looks [L the rebuke of your face].
17 ·With your hand,
    strengthen the one you have chosen for yourself [L Let your hand be on the man of your right hand; C the king].
18 Then we will not ·turn away from [deviate from; be disloyal to] you.
    Give us life again, and we will call ·to you for help [L on your name].

19 Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], ·take us back [restore us].
·Show us your kindness [L Make your face shine on us; 31:16; 67:1; Num. 6:24–26] so we can ·be saved [have victory].

Psalm 80

A Prayer for Restoration

For the choir director: according to “The Lilies.”(A) A testimony of Asaph.(B) A psalm.

Listen, Shepherd of Israel,
who leads Joseph like a flock;(C)
you who sit enthroned between the cherubim,(D)
shine(E) on Ephraim,
Benjamin, and Manasseh.(F)
Rally your power and come to save us.(G)
Restore us, God;
make your face shine on us,(H)
so that we may be saved.(I)

Lord God of Armies,
how long will you be angry
with your people’s prayers?(J)
You fed them the bread of tears
and gave them a full measure[a]
of tears to drink.(K)
You put us at odds with our neighbors;
our enemies mock us.(L)
Restore us, God of Armies;
make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.(M)

You dug up a vine from Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.(N)
You cleared a place for it;
it took root and filled the land.(O)
10 The mountains were covered by its shade,
and the mighty cedars[b] with its branches.(P)
11 It sent out sprouts toward the Sea[c]
and shoots toward the River.[d](Q)

12 Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its fruit?(R)
13 Boars from the forest tear at it
and creatures of the field feed on it.(S)
14 Return, God of Armies.(T)
Look down from heaven and see;
take care of this vine,
15 the root[e] your right hand planted,
the son[f] that you made strong for yourself.(U)
16 It was cut down and burned;
they[g] perish at the rebuke of your countenance.(V)
17 Let your hand be with the man at your right hand,
with the son of man
you have made strong for yourself.(W)
18 Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.(X)
19 Restore us, Lord, God of Armies;(Y)
make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.(Z)

Footnotes

  1. 80:5 Lit a one-third measure
  2. 80:10 Lit the cedars of God
  3. 80:11 = the Mediterranean
  4. 80:11 = the Euphrates
  5. 80:15 Hb obscure
  6. 80:15 Or shoot
  7. 80:16 Or may they

Psalm 80[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” Of Asaph. A psalm.

Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.(A)
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,(B)
    shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.(C)
Awaken(D) your might;
    come and save us.(E)

Restore(F) us,(G) O God;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.(H)

How long,(I) Lord God Almighty,
    will your anger smolder(J)
    against the prayers of your people?
You have fed them with the bread of tears;(K)
    you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.(L)
You have made us an object of derision[b] to our neighbors,
    and our enemies mock us.(M)

Restore us, God Almighty;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.(N)

You transplanted a vine(O) from Egypt;
    you drove out(P) the nations and planted(Q) it.
You cleared the ground for it,
    and it took root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
    the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 Its branches reached as far as the Sea,[c]
    its shoots as far as the River.[d](R)

12 Why have you broken down its walls(S)
    so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
13 Boars from the forest ravage(T) it,
    and insects from the fields feed on it.
14 Return to us, God Almighty!
    Look down from heaven and see!(U)
Watch over this vine,
15     the root your right hand has planted,
    the son[e] you have raised up for yourself.

16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;(V)
    at your rebuke(W) your people perish.
17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
    the son of man(X) you have raised up for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you;
    revive(Y) us, and we will call on your name.

19 Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 80:1 In Hebrew texts 80:1-19 is numbered 80:2-20.
  2. Psalm 80:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text contention
  3. Psalm 80:11 Probably the Mediterranean
  4. Psalm 80:11 That is, the Euphrates
  5. Psalm 80:15 Or branch