Psalms 80
1 [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.
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
2 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!
Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses. Stir up thy might, and come to save us.
3 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.]
Convert us, O God: and shew us thy face, and we shall be saved.
4 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?
O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy servant?
5 [It is as though] the only food and drink that you have given us is a cup full of our tears!
How long wilt thou feed us with the bread of tears: and give us for our drink tears in measure?
6 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.
Thou hast made us to be a contradiction to our neighbours: and our enemies have scoffed at us.
7 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!
O God of hosts, convert us: and shew thy face, and we shall be saved.
8 [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.
Thou hast brought a vineyard out of Egypt: thou hast cast cut the Gentiles and planted it.
9 [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].
Thou wast the guide of its journey in its sight: thou plantedst the roots thereof, and it filled the land.
10 [Like huge] grapevines cover the hills with their shade and their branches are taller than big cedar [trees] [MET, HYP],
The shadow of it covered the hills: and the branches thereof the cedars of God.
11 [your people ruled all of Canaan], from the [Mediterranean] Sea [in the west] to the [Euphrates] River [in the east].
It stretched forth its branches unto the sea, and its boughs unto the river.
12 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,
Why hast thou broken down the hedge thereof, so that all they who pass by the way do pluck it?
13 and wild pigs [can] trample [the vines], and wild animals [can also] eat [the grapes].
The boar out of the wood hath laid it waste: and a singular wild beast hath devoured it.
14 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,
Turn again, O God of hosts, look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vineyard:
15 who are [like] the young vine that you [SYN] planted and caused to grow!
And perfect the same which thy right hand hath planted: and upon the son of man whom thou hast confirmed for thyself.
16 Our enemies have torn down and burned everything in our land; look at them angrily and get rid of them!
Things set on fire and dug down shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
17 But strengthen [us] people whom you have chosen [IDM], [us] Israeli people whom you [previously] caused to be very strong.
Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand: and upon the son of man whom thou hast confirmed for thyself.
18 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.
And we depart not from thee, thou shalt quicken us: and we will call upon thy name.
19 Yahweh, commander of the armies of heaven, restore us; be kind to us in order that we may be rescued [from our enemies]!
O Lord God of hosts, convert us: and shew thy face, and we shall be saved.
