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

For the Director of Music: According to “The Lilies”. A testimony of Asaph. A psalm.

A Prayer for Jerusalem

80 Shepherd of Israel, listen!
    The one who leads Joseph like a flock,
the one enthroned on the cherubim,
    display your glory.[a]

Reveal[b] your power before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
    then come to our rescue.

God, restore us,
    show your favor[c] and deliver us.

Lord God of the Heavenly Armies,
    when will your smoldering anger[d]
        toward your people’s prayers cease?[e]
You fed them tears as their food,
    and caused them to drink a full measure of tears.
You have set us at strife against our neighbors
    and our enemies deride us.

God of the Heavenly Armies, restore us
    and show your favor,[f]
        so we may be delivered.

You uprooted a vine from Egypt,
    and drove out nations to transplant it.
You cleared the ground[g] so that its roots grew
    and filled the land.
10 Mountains were covered by its shadows,
    and the mighty cedars by its branches.
11 Its branches spread out to the Mediterranean[h] Sea
    and its shoots to the Euphrates[i] River.
12 Why did you break down its walls
    so that those who pass by pluck its fruits?[j]
13 Wild boars of the forest gnaw at it,
    and creatures of the field feed on it.

14 God of the Heavenly Armies, return!
    Look down from heaven and see.
        Show care[k] toward this vine.
15 The root[l] that your right hand planted,
    the shoot[m] that you tended for yourself,
16 was burned with fire, cut off,
    and destroyed on account of your rebuke.

17 May you support the man at your right hand;
    the son of man whom you have raised for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you.
    Restore us, so we can call upon your name.

19 God of hosts, restore to us the light of your favor.[n]
    Then we’ll be delivered.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 80:1 The Heb. lacks your glory
  2. Psalm 80:2 Or rouse, stir up
  3. Psalm 80:3 Lit. cause your face to shine
  4. Psalm 80:4 Lit. Until when will you burn in anger
  5. Psalm 80:4 The Heb. lacks cease
  6. Psalm 80:7 Lit. cause your face to shine
  7. Psalm 80:9 The Heb. lacks ground
  8. Psalm 80:11 The Heb. lacks Mediterranean
  9. Psalm 80:11 The Heb. lacks Euphrates
  10. Psalm 80:12 Heb. lacks its fruits
  11. Psalm 80:14 Lit. Visit
  12. Psalm 80:15 Or stock
  13. Psalm 80:15 Lit. son
  14. Psalm 80:19 Lit. face