Psalm 80

The Voice

¹ 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!
² In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
    arouse Your strength and power,
    and save us!

³ 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.

⁴ O Eternal God, Commander of heaven’s armies,
    how long will You remain angry at the prayers of Your sons and daughters?
⁵ You have given them tears for food;
    You have given them an abundance of tears to drink.
⁶ You have made us a source of trouble for our neighbors—
    our enemies laugh to each other behind our backs.
⁷ 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.

⁸ You took us like a grapevine dug from the soil of Egypt;
    You forced out the nations and transplanted it in Your land.
⁹ 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.