Psalm 79-80

New International Version

Psalm 79

A psalm of Asaph.

¹O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;^(A)
    they have defiled^(B) your holy temple,
    they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.^(C)
²They have left the dead bodies of your servants
    as food for the birds of the sky,^(D)
    the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.^(E)
³They have poured out blood like water
    all around Jerusalem,
    and there is no one to bury^(F) the dead.^(G)
⁴We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,
    of scorn^(H) and derision to those around us.^(I)

⁵How long,^(J) Lord? Will you be angry^(K) forever?
    How long will your jealousy burn like fire?^(L)
⁶Pour out your wrath^(M) on the nations
    that do not acknowledge^(N) you,
on the kingdoms
    that do not call on your name;^(O)
⁷for they have devoured^(P) Jacob
    and devastated his homeland.

⁸Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;^(Q)
    may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
    for we are in desperate need.^(R)
⁹Help us,^(S) God our Savior,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
    for your name’s sake.^(T)
¹⁰Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”^(U)

Before our eyes, make known among the nations
    that you avenge^(V) the outpoured blood^(W) of your servants.
¹¹May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
    with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
¹²Pay back into the laps^(X) of our neighbors seven times^(Y)
    the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
¹³Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,^(Z)
    will praise you forever;^(AA)
from generation to generation
    we will proclaim your praise.

Psalm 80^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” Of Asaph. A psalm.

¹Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.^(AB)
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,^(AC)
    shine forth ²before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.^(AD)
Awaken^(AE) your might;
    come and save us.^(AF)

³Restore^(AG) us,^(AH) O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.^(AI)

⁴How long,^(AJ) Lord God Almighty,
    will your anger smolder^(AK)
    against the prayers of your people?
⁵You have fed them with the bread of tears;^(AL)
    you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.^(AM)
⁶You have made us an object of derision^[b] to our neighbors,
    and our enemies mock us.^(AN)

⁷Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.^(AO)

⁸You transplanted a vine^(AP) from Egypt;
    you drove out^(AQ) the nations and planted^(AR) it.
⁹You cleared the ground for it,
    and it took root and filled the land.
¹⁰The mountains were covered with its shade,
    the mighty cedars with its branches.
¹¹Its branches reached as far as the Sea,^[c]
    its shoots as far as the River.^[d]^(AS)

¹²Why have you broken down its walls^(AT)
    so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
¹³Boars from the forest ravage^(AU) it,
    and insects from the fields feed on it.
¹⁴Return to us, God Almighty!
    Look down from heaven and see!^(AV)
Watch over this vine,
¹⁵    the root your right hand has planted,
    the son^[e] you have raised up for yourself.

¹⁶Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;^(AW)
    at your rebuke^(AX) your people perish.
¹⁷Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
    the son of man^(AY) you have raised up for yourself.
¹⁸Then we will not turn away from you;
    revive^(AZ) us, and we will call on your name.

¹⁹Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

Footnotes

Psalm 80:1 In Hebrew texts 80:1-19 is numbered 80:2-20.
Psalm 80:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text contention
Psalm 80:11 Probably the Mediterranean
Psalm 80:11 That is, the Euphrates
Psalm 80:15 Or branch