Add parallel Print Page Options

A Prayer to Bring Israel Back

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies of the Agreement.” A song of Asaph.

80 Shepherd of Israel, listen to us.
    You lead the people of Joseph like a flock.
You sit on your throne between the gold creatures with wings.
Show your greatness     to the people of Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Use your strength.
    Come and save us.

God, take us back.
    Show us your kindness so we can be saved.

Lord God of heaven’s armies,
    how long will you be angry
    at the prayers of your people?
You have fed your people tears.
    You have made them drink many tears.
You made those around us fight over us.
    Our enemies make fun of us.

God of heaven’s armies, take us back.
    Show us your kindness so we can be saved.

You brought us out of Egypt as if we were a vine.
    You forced out other nations and planted us in the land.
You cleared the land for us.
    Like a vine, we took root and filled the land.
10 We covered the mountains with our shade.
    We had limbs like the mighty cedar tree.
11 Our branches reached the Mediterranean Sea.
    And our shoots went to the Euphrates River.

12 So why did you pull down our walls?
    Now everyone who passes by steals from us.
13 Like wild pigs they walk over us.
    Like wild animals they feed on us.

14 God of heaven’s armies, come back.
    Look down from heaven and see.
Take care of us, your vine.
15     You planted this shoot with your own hands.
    You raised and strengthened this child.
16 Now it is cut down and burned with fire.
    You destroyed us by your angry looks.
17 Help the man you have chosen.
    Make this human being strong for your service.
18 Then we will not turn away from you.
    Give us life again, and we will call to you for help.

19 Lord God of heaven’s armies, take us back.
    Show us your kindness so we can be saved.

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