Psalm 80

A Prayer for Restoration

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

Listen, Shepherd of Israel,
who leads Joseph like a flock;(B)
You who sit enthroned on the cherubim,(C)
rise up(D)
before Ephraim,
Benjamin, and Manasseh.[b](E)
Rally Your power and come to save us.(F)
Restore us, God;
look on us with favor,
and we will be saved.(G)

Lord God of Hosts,
how long will You be angry
with Your people’s prayers?(H)
You fed them the bread of tears
and gave them a full measure[c]
of tears to drink.(I)
You make us quarrel with our neighbors;
our enemies make fun of us.(J)
Restore us, God of Hosts;
look on us with favor, and we will be saved.(K)

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

12 Why have You broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its fruit?(P)
13 The boar from the forest tears it
and creatures of the field feed on it.(Q)
14 Return, God of Hosts.(R)
Look down from heaven and see;
take care of this vine,
15 the root[g] Your right hand has planted,
the shoot[h] that You made strong for Yourself.(S)
16 It was cut down and burned up;[i]
they[j] perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.(T)
17 Let Your hand be with the man at Your right hand,
with the son of man
You have made strong for Yourself.(U)
18 Then we will not turn away from You;
revive us, and we will call on Your name.(V)
19 Restore us, Yahweh, the God of Hosts;(W)
look on us with favor, and we will be saved.(X)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 80:1 Possibly a tune; Pss 45; 60; 69
  2. Psalm 80:2 This is the marching order for the camp of Israel.
  3. Psalm 80:5 Lit a one-third measure
  4. Psalm 80:10 Lit the cedars of God
  5. Psalm 80:11 = the Mediterranean
  6. Psalm 80:11 = the Euphrates
  7. Psalm 80:15 Hb obscure
  8. Psalm 80:15 Or son
  9. Psalm 80:16 Lit burned with fire
  10. Psalm 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