Psalms 80
1 Unto the end, for them that shall he changed, a testimony for Asaph, a psalm. Give ear, O thou that rulest Israel: thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. Thou that sittest upon the cherubims, shine forth
[Yahweh], you [who lead us like] a shepherd leads his flock [of sheep], listen to us Israeli people. You sit on your throne [in the Very Holy Place in the temple], above the [carvings of] winged creatures.
2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses. Stir up thy might, and come to save us.
Show yourself to [the people of the tribes of] Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh! Show us that you are powerful and come and rescue us!
3 Convert us, O God: and shew us thy face, and we shall be saved.
God, cause our nation to be strong like it was before; be kind to us [IDM] in order that we may be saved [from our enemies.]
4 O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy servant?
Yahweh, you who are the commander of the armies of heaven, how long will you be angry with us, your people, when we pray to you?
5 How long wilt thou feed us with the bread of tears: and give us for our drink tears in measure?
[It is as though] the only food and drink that you have given us is a cup full of our tears!
6 Thou hast made us to be a contradiction to our neighbours: and our enemies have scoffed at us.
You have allowed the people-groups that surround us to fight with [each other to decide which part of our land each of them will take]; our enemies laugh at us.
7 O God of hosts, convert us: and shew thy face, and we shall be saved.
God, commander of the armies of heaven, cause our nation to be strong like it was before! Be kind to us in order that we may be saved!
8 Thou hast brought a vineyard out of Egypt: thou hast cast cut the Gentiles and planted it.
[Our ancestors were like] a grapevine [MET] that you brought out of Egypt; you expelled the other people-groups [from this land], and you put your people in their land.
9 Thou wast the guide of its journey in its sight: thou plantedst the roots thereof, and it filled the land.
[Like people] clear ground to plant a grapevine [MET], [you cleared out the people who were living in this land for us to live in it]. [Like] the roots of a grapevine go deep down into the ground and spread [MET], [you enabled our ancestors to prosper and start living in towns all over this land].
10 The shadow of it covered the hills: and the branches thereof the cedars of God.
[Like huge] grapevines cover the hills with their shade and their branches are taller than big cedar [trees] [MET, HYP],
11 It stretched forth its branches unto the sea, and its boughs unto the river.
[your people ruled all of Canaan], from the [Mediterranean] Sea [in the west] to the [Euphrates] River [in the east].
12 Why hast thou broken down the hedge thereof, so that all they who pass by the way do pluck it?
So why have you abandoned us and [allowed our enemies to] tear down our walls [RHQ]? [You are like] someone who tears down the fences [around his vineyard], with the result that all [the people] who pass by [can] steal the grapes,
13 The boar out of the wood hath laid it waste: and a singular wild beast hath devoured it.
and wild pigs [can] trample [the vines], and wild animals [can also] eat [the grapes].
14 Turn again, O God of hosts, look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vineyard:
You who are the commander of the armies of heaven, (turn to/stop abandoning) us! Look down from heaven and see [what is happening to] us! Come and rescue [us who are like] [MET] your grapevine,
15 And perfect the same which thy right hand hath planted: and upon the son of man whom thou hast confirmed for thyself.
who are [like] the young vine that you [SYN] planted and caused to grow!
16 Things set on fire and dug down shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
Our enemies have torn down and burned everything in our land; look at them angrily and get rid of them!
17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand: and upon the son of man whom thou hast confirmed for thyself.
But strengthen [us] people whom you have chosen [IDM], [us] Israeli people whom you [previously] caused to be very strong.
18 And we depart not from thee, thou shalt quicken us: and we will call upon thy name.
When you do that, we will never turn away from you again; (revive us/cause us to be again like we were previously), and [then] we will praise/worship you.
19 O Lord God of hosts, convert us: and shew thy face, and we shall be saved.
Yahweh, commander of the armies of heaven, restore us; be kind to us in order that we may be rescued [from our enemies]!
