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Psalm 80-85
Contemporary English Version
Psalm 80-85
Contemporary English Version
(A psalm by Asaph for the music leader. To the tune “Lilies of the Agreement.”)
Help Our Nation
1 (A) Shepherd of Israel, you lead
the descendants of Joseph,
and you sit on your throne
above the winged creatures.[a]
Listen to our prayer
and let your light shine
2 for the tribes of Ephraim,
Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Save us by your power.
3 Our God, make us strong again!
Smile on us and save us.
4 Lord God All-Powerful,
how much longer
will the prayers of your people
make you angry?
5 You gave us tears for food,
and you made us drink them
by the bowlful.
6 Because of you,
our enemies who live nearby
laugh and joke about us.
7 Our God, make us strong again!
Smile on us and save us.
8 We were like a grapevine
you brought out of Egypt.
You chased other nations away
and planted us here.
9 Then you cleared the ground,
and we put our roots deep,
spreading over the land.
10 Shade from this vine covered
the mountains.
Its branches climbed
the mighty cedars
11 and stretched to the sea;
its new growth reached
to the river.[b]
12 Our Lord, why have you
torn down the wall
from around the vineyard?
You let everyone who walks by
pick the grapes.
13 Now the vine is gobbled up
by pigs from the forest
and other wild animals.
14 God All-Powerful,
please do something!
Look down from heaven
and see what's happening
to this vine.
15 With your own hands
you planted its roots,
and you raised it
as your very own.
16 Enemies chopped the vine down
and set it on fire.
Now show your anger
and destroy them.
17 But help the one who sits
at your right side,[c]
the one you raised
to be your very own.
18 Then we will never turn away.
Put new life into us,
and we will worship you.
19 Lord God All-Powerful,
make us strong again!
Smile on us and save us.
(By Asaph for the music leader.[d])
God Makes Us Strong
1 Be happy and shout to God
who makes us strong!
Shout praises to the God
of Jacob.
2 Sing as you play tambourines
and the lovely sounding
stringed instruments.
3 (B) Sound the trumpets and start
the New Moon Festival.[e]
We must also celebrate
when the moon is full.
4 This is the law in Israel,
and it was given to us
by the God of Jacob.
5 The descendants of Joseph
were told to obey it,
when God led them out
from the land of Egypt.
In a voice unknown to me,
I heard someone say:
6 “I lifted the burden
from your shoulder
and took the heavy basket
from your hands.
7 (C) When you were in trouble,
I rescued you,
and from the thunderclouds,
I answered your prayers.
Later I tested you
at Meribah Spring.[f]
8 “Listen, my people,
while I, the Lord,
correct you!
Israel, if you would only
pay attention to me!
9 (D) Don't worship foreign gods
or bow down to gods
you know nothing about.
10 I am the Lord your God.
I rescued you from Egypt.
Just ask, and I will give you
whatever you need.
11 “But, my people, Israel,
you refused to listen,
and you would have nothing
to do with me!
12 So I let you be stubborn
and keep on following
your own advice.
13 “My people, Israel,
if only you would listen
and do as I say!
14 I, the Lord, would quickly
defeat your enemies
with my mighty power.
15 Everyone who hates me
would come crawling,
and that would be the end
of them.
16 But I would feed you
with the finest bread
and with the best honey[g]
until you were full.”
(A psalm by Asaph.)
Please Do Something, God!
1 When all the other gods[h]
have come together,
the Lord God judges them
and says:
2 “How long will you
keep judging unfairly
and favoring evil people?
3 Be fair to the poor
and to orphans.
Defend the helpless
and everyone in need.
4 Rescue the weak and homeless
from the powerful hands
of heartless people.
5 “None of you know
or understand a thing.
You live in darkness,
while the foundations
of the earth tremble.[i]
6 (E) “I, the Most High God, say
that all of you are gods[j]
and also my own children.
7 But you will die,
just like everyone else,
including powerful rulers.”
8 Do something, God!
Judge the nations of the earth;
they belong to you.
(A song and a psalm by Asaph.)
God Rules All the Earth
1 Our God, don't just sit there,
silently doing nothing!
2 Your hateful enemies
are turning against you
and rebelling.
3 They are sly, and they plot
against those you treasure.
4 They say, “Let's wipe out
the nation of Israel
and make sure that no one
remembers its name!”
5 All of them fully agree
in their plans against you,
and among them are
6 Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia and Phoenicia.[k]
8 Even Assyria has joined forces
with Moab and Ammon.[l]
9 (F) Our Lord, punish all of them
as you punished Midian.
Destroy them, as you destroyed
Sisera and Jabin
at Kishon Creek 10 near Endor,
and let their bodies rot.
11 (G) Treat their leaders as you did
Oreb and Zeeb,
Zebah and Zalmunna.
12 All of them said, “We'll take
God's valuable land!”
13 Our God, scatter them around
like dust in a whirlwind.
14 Just as flames destroy forests
on the mountains,
15 pursue and terrify them
with storms of your own.
16 Make them blush with shame,
until they turn and worship
you, our Lord.
17 Let them be forever ashamed
and confused.
Let them die in disgrace.
18 Make them realize that you
are the Lord Most High,
the only ruler of earth!
(For the music leader.[m] A psalm by the clan of Korah.)
The Joy of Worship
1 Lord God All-Powerful,
your temple is so lovely!
2 Deep in my heart I long
for your temple,
and with all that I am
I sing joyful songs to you.
3 Lord God All-Powerful,
my King and my God,
sparrows find a home
near your altars;
swallows build nests there
to raise their young.
4 You bless everyone
who lives in your house,
and they sing your praises.
5 You bless all who depend
on you for their strength
and all who deeply desire
to visit your temple.
6 When they reach Dry Valley,[n]
springs start flowing,
and the autumn rain fills it
with pools of water.[o]
7 Your people grow stronger,
and you, the God of gods,
will be seen in Zion.
8 Lord God All-Powerful,
the God of Jacob,
please answer my prayer!
9 You are the shield
that protects your people,
and I am your chosen one.
Won't you smile on me?
10 One day in your temple
is better than a thousand
anywhere else.
I would rather serve
in your house,
than live in the homes
of the wicked.
11 Our Lord and our God,
you are like the sun
and also like a shield.
You treat us with kindness
and with honor,
never denying any good thing
to those who live right.
12 Lord God All-Powerful,
you bless everyone
who trusts you.
(A psalm by the clan of Korah for the music leader.)
A Prayer for Peace
1 Our Lord, you have blessed
your land
and made all go well
for Jacob's descendants.
2 You have forgiven the sin
and taken away the guilt
of your people.
3 Your fierce anger is no longer
aimed at us.
4 Our Lord and our God,
you save us!
Please bring us back home
and don't be angry.
5 Will you always be angry
with us and our families?
6 Won't you give us fresh life
and let your people be glad
because of you?
7 Show us your love
and save us!
8 I will listen to you, Lord God,
because you promise peace
to those who are faithful
and no longer foolish.
9 You are ready to rescue
everyone who worships you,
so that you will live with us
in all your glory.
10 Love and loyalty
will come together;
goodness and peace
will unite.
11 Loyalty will sprout
from the ground;
justice will look down
from the sky above.
12 Our Lord, you will bless us;
our land will produce
wonderful crops.
13 Justice will march in front,
making a path
for you to follow.
Footnotes
- 80.1 winged creatures: Two winged creatures made of gold were on the top of the sacred chest and were symbols of the Lord's throne on earth (see Exodus 25.18).
- 80.11 the sea … the river: The Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River were part of the ideal boundaries for Israel.
- 80.17 right side: See the note at 16.11.
- Psalm 81 leader: See the note at Psalm 8.
- 81.3 New Moon Festival: Celebrated on the first day of each new moon, which was the beginning of the month. But this may refer to either the New Year celebration or the Harvest Festival. “The moon is full” suggests a festival in the middle of the month.
- 81.7 Meribah Spring: When the people of Israel complained to Moses about the need for water, God commanded Moses to strike a rock with his walking stick, and water came out. The place was then named Massah (“test”) and Meribah (“complaining”).
- 81.16 the best honey: The Hebrew text has “honey from rocks,” referring to honey taken from beehives in holes or cracks in large rocks.
- 82.1 the other gods: This probably refers to the gods of the nations that God defeated, but it could refer to God's servants (angels) in heaven or even to human rulers.
- 82.5 foundations … tremble: In ancient times it was believed that the earth was flat and supported by columns.
- 82.6 all of you are gods: See the note at 82.1.
- 83.7 Phoenicia: The Hebrew text has “Tyre,” the main city in Phoenicia.
- 83.8 Moab and Ammon: The Hebrew text has “the descendants of Lot,” whose older daughter was the mother of the Moabites and whose younger daughter was the mother of the Ammonites (see Genesis 19.30-38).
- Psalm 84 leader: See the note at Psalm 8.
- 84.6 Dry Valley: Or “Balsam Tree Valley.” The exact location is not known.
- 84.6 and … water: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Psalm 80-85
New International Version
Psalm 80-85
New International Version
Psalm 80[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.(A)
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,(B)
shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.(C)
Awaken(D) your might;
come and save us.(E)
4 How long,(I) Lord God Almighty,
will your anger smolder(J)
against the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears;(K)
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.(L)
6 You have made us an object of derision[b] to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.(M)
7 Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.(N)
8 You transplanted a vine(O) from Egypt;
you drove out(P) the nations and planted(Q) it.
9 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.
Psalm 81[f]
For the director of music. According to gittith.[g] Of Asaph.
1 Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!(Z)
2 Begin the music, strike the timbrel,(AA)
play the melodious harp(AB) and lyre.(AC)
3 Sound the ram’s horn(AD) at the New Moon,(AE)
and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
4 this is a decree for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.(AF)
5 When God went out against Egypt,(AG)
he established it as a statute for Joseph.
I heard an unknown voice say:(AH)
6 “I removed the burden(AI) from their shoulders;(AJ)
their hands were set free from the basket.
7 In your distress you called(AK) and I rescued you,
I answered(AL) you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.[h](AM)
8 Hear me, my people,(AN) and I will warn you—
if you would only listen to me, Israel!
9 You shall have no foreign god(AO) among you;
you shall not worship any god other than me.
10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.(AP)
Open(AQ) wide your mouth and I will fill(AR) it.
11 “But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.(AS)
12 So I gave them over(AT) to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
13 “If my people would only listen to me,(AU)
if Israel would only follow my ways,
14 how quickly I would subdue(AV) their enemies
and turn my hand against(AW) their foes!
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe(AX) before him,
and their punishment would last forever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;(AY)
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
Psalm 82
A psalm of Asaph.
2 “How long will you[i] defend the unjust
and show partiality(BB) to the wicked?[j](BC)
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;(BD)
uphold the cause of the poor(BE) and the oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
5 “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.(BF)
They walk about in darkness;(BG)
all the foundations(BH) of the earth are shaken.
6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”;(BI)
you are all sons of the Most High.’
7 But you will die(BJ) like mere mortals;
you will fall like every other ruler.”
Psalm 83[k]
A song. A psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, do not remain silent;(BN)
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.
2 See how your enemies growl,(BO)
how your foes rear their heads.(BP)
3 With cunning they conspire(BQ) against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.(BR)
4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy(BS) them as a nation,(BT)
so that Israel’s name is remembered(BU) no more.”
5 With one mind they plot together;(BV)
they form an alliance against you—
6 the tents of Edom(BW) and the Ishmaelites,
of Moab(BX) and the Hagrites,(BY)
7 Byblos,(BZ) Ammon(CA) and Amalek,(CB)
Philistia,(CC) with the people of Tyre.(CD)
8 Even Assyria(CE) has joined them
to reinforce Lot’s descendants.[l](CF)
9 Do to them as you did to Midian,(CG)
as you did to Sisera(CH) and Jabin(CI) at the river Kishon,(CJ)
10 who perished at Endor(CK)
and became like dung(CL) on the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,(CM)
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,(CN)
12 who said, “Let us take possession(CO)
of the pasturelands of God.”
13 Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
like chaff(CP) before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest
or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,(CQ)
15 so pursue them with your tempest(CR)
and terrify them with your storm.(CS)
16 Cover their faces with shame,(CT) Lord,
so that they will seek your name.
17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;(CU)
may they perish in disgrace.(CV)
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord(CW)—
that you alone are the Most High(CX) over all the earth.(CY)
Psalm 84[m]
For the director of music. According to gittith.[n] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,(CZ)
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns,(DA) even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.(DB)
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,(DC)
Lord Almighty,(DD) my King(DE) and my God.(DF)
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.[o]
5 Blessed are those whose strength(DG) is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(DH)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;(DI)
the autumn(DJ) rains also cover it with pools.[p]
7 They go from strength to strength,(DK)
till each appears(DL) before God in Zion.(DM)
8 Hear my prayer,(DN) Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[q](DO) O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.(DP)
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(DQ) in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(DR) and shield;(DS)
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(DT)
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed(DU) is the one who trusts in you.
Psalm 85[r]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes(DV) of Jacob.
2 You forgave(DW) the iniquity(DX) of your people
and covered all their sins.[s]
3 You set aside all your wrath(DY)
and turned from your fierce anger.(DZ)
4 Restore(EA) us again, God our Savior,(EB)
and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?(EC)
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive(ED) us again,
that your people may rejoice(EE) in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love,(EF) Lord,
and grant us your salvation.(EG)
8 I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace(EH) to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.(EI)
9 Surely his salvation(EJ) is near those who fear him,
that his glory(EK) may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness(EL) meet together;
righteousness(EM) and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness(EN) looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,(EO)
and our land will yield(EP) its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
Footnotes
- Psalm 80:1 In Hebrew texts 80:1-19 is numbered 80:2-20.
- Psalm 80:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text contention
- Psalm 80:11 Probably the Mediterranean
- Psalm 80:11 That is, the Euphrates
- Psalm 80:15 Or branch
- Psalm 81:1 In Hebrew texts 81:1-16 is numbered 81:2-17.
- Psalm 81:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 81:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew is plural.
- Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 83:1 In Hebrew texts 83:1-18 is numbered 83:2-19.
- Psalm 83:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
- Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
- Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
- Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
- Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
- Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
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