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

Prayer for Israel’s Restoration

To the leader: on Lilies, a Covenant. Of Asaph. A Psalm.

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth(A)
    before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
    and come to save us!(B)

Restore us, O God;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved.(C)

O Lord God of hosts,
    how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?(D)
You have fed them with the bread of tears
    and given them tears to drink in full measure.(E)
You make us the scorn[a] of our neighbors;
    our enemies laugh among themselves.(F)

Restore us, O God of hosts;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved.

You brought a vine out of Egypt;
    you drove out the nations and planted it.(G)
You cleared the ground for it;
    it took deep root and filled the land.(H)
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
    the mighty cedars with its branches;
11 it sent out its branches to the sea
    and its shoots to the River.
12 Why then have you broken down its walls,
    so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?(I)
13 The boar from the forest ravages it,
    and all that move in the field feed on it.(J)

14 Turn again, O God of hosts;
    look down from heaven and see;
have regard for this vine,(K)
15     the stock that your right hand planted.[b]
16 It has been burned with fire; it has been cut down;
    may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.(L)
17 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
    the one whom you made strong for yourself.(M)
18 Then we will never turn back from you;
    give us life, and we will call on your name.(N)

19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Footnotes

  1. 80.6 Syr: Heb strife
  2. 80.15 Heb adds from 80.17 and upon the one whom you made strong for yourself