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Psalm 80

For the worship leader. A song of Asaph to the tune “The Lilies.”[a]

Psalm 80 is a communal lament composed in Judah (the Southern Kingdom) after the fall of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) in 722 b.c.

Turn Your ear toward us, Shepherd of Israel,
    You who lead the children of Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned above heaven’s winged creatures,[b]
    radiate Your light!
In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
    arouse Your strength and power,
    and save us!

Bring us back to You, God.
    Turn the light of Your face upon us so that we will be rescued from this sea of darkness.

O Eternal God, Commander of heaven’s armies,
    how long will You remain angry at the prayers of Your sons and daughters?
You have given them tears for food;
    You have given them an abundance of tears to drink.
You have made us a source of trouble for our neighbors—
    our enemies laugh to each other behind our backs.
O God, Commander of heaven’s armies, bring us back to You.
    Turn the light of Your face upon us so that we will be rescued from this sea of darkness.

You took us like a grapevine dug from the soil of Egypt;
    You forced out the nations and transplanted it in Your land.
You groomed the ground around it,
    planted it so it would root deep into the earth, and it covered all the land.
10 As it grew, the mountains were blanketed by its shadow;
    the mighty cedars were covered by its branches.
11 The plant extended its branches to the Mediterranean Sea,
    and spread its shoots all the way to the Euphrates River.
12 God, why have You pulled down the wall that protected it
    so that everyone who wanders by can pick its sweet grapes?
13 The wild boar of the forest eats it all,
    and the creatures of the field feast upon it.

14 O God, Commander of heaven’s armies, come back to us.
    Gaze down from heaven and see what has happened.
Keep watch over this vine, and nourish it.
15 Look after the saplings which You planted with Your own right hand,
    the child whom You have raised and nurtured for Yourself.
16 Your enemies have chopped it down and burned it with fire;
    may they be destroyed by the sight of Your rebuke.
17 Let Your protective hand rest on the one who is at Your right hand,
    the child of man whom You have raised and nurtured for Yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from You.
    Bring us back to life! And we will call out for You!

19 O Eternal God, Commander of heaven’s armies, bring us back to You.
    Turn the light of Your face upon us so that we will be rescued from this sea of darkness.

Footnotes

  1. 80:title Hebrew, shoshannim, white lily-like flowers, perhaps the melody to which the song is sung
  2. 80:1 Literally, cherubim

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