Psalm 80:8-18
New Catholic Bible
8 Restore us, O Lord of hosts;
let your face shine upon us,
and we will be saved.
9 [a]You brought a vine[b] out of Egypt;
you dispersed the nations and planted it.
10 You prepared the ground for it;
then it took root and filled the land.
11 The mountains were covered with its shade
and the cedars of God[c] with its shoots.
12 It sent out its boughs as far as the Sea,[d]
its shoots as far as the river.
13 [e]Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pluck its grapes?[f]
14 The boars from the forest ravage it,
and wild beasts of the field feed on it.
15 Turn once again to us, O Lord of hosts;[g]
look down from heaven and see;
take care of this vine,
16 this shoot[h] that your right hand has planted,
the son that you yourself made strong.
17 Let those who would burn it or cut it down
perish when confronted by your rebuke.
18 Let your hand rest upon the man at your right,[i]
the son of man that you yourself made strong.
Footnotes
- Psalm 80:9 Israel is God’s magnificent garden whose ideal limits extend as far as the Euphrates (“river” of v. 12). God is like the vinedresser who cherishes his vine/vineyard and takes pleasure in it. How could he not be saddened to see it devastated (see Isa 5:1-7; 27:2-5; Jer 2:21; 12:10)? This image will pass into the New Testament (see Mt 20:1; 21:33-41; Jn 15:1-5).
- Psalm 80:9 Vine: a familiar allegory in the Prophets (see Isa 5:1; 27:2; Jer 2:21; 12:10; Ezek 17:6-8; 19:10-14; Hos 10:1; 14:7; Mic 7:1), as is that of the shepherd (see Ps 23:1; Gen 48:15; Ezek 34:11). See also Mt 20:1; Jn 15:1.
- Psalm 80:11 Cedars of God: cedars that were so huge, they were regarded as being planted by God.
- Psalm 80:12 Sea: i.e., Mediterranean; River: i.e., Euphrates.
- Psalm 80:13 The psalmist begs God to attend once again to his wasted vine then, the people will once again praise their savior.
- Psalm 80:13 Why . . . ?: see note on Ps 6:4.
- Psalm 80:15 Lord of hosts: see note on Ps 59:6.
- Psalm 80:16 Shoot: i.e., Israel. Son: i.e., Israel. The word may also be translated as “branch.” Some versions omit verse 16b.
- Psalm 80:18 Man at your right: probably a reference to Israel, beloved son of the Lord (see Ex 4:22) or to the Davidic king who will lead the army in battle. Other suggestions put forth by scholars are Zerubbabel and Ezra, who presided over the restoration. Son of man: another word for “man” in the first half of this verse.
