For the musical director: a song by Asaf to be sung to the tune of ‘Lilies of Agreement.’

80 Pay attention, Yisrael’s shepherd.

You who lead Yosef (Joseph, meaning Israel) like a flock;

You who sit above the winged creatures on the sacred chest, shine on us!

2 In the sight of Efrayim and Benyamin and Menashsheh, stir up your power.

Come and save us.

3 God, restore us;

Show us your favour and then we’ll be saved.

4 Army commander Yahweh,

how long will you be angry at your people when they pray?

5 You have fed them with bread made from tears

and given them tears to drink in great quantities.

6 You make us something for our neighbours to argue over,

and our enemies laugh about us among themselves.

7 Army commander God, restore us.

Show us your favour and then we’ll be saved.

8 You brought a grapevine out of Egypt.

You drove out nations then transplanted it.

9 You cleared the land for it,

→ and the grapevine took root and filled the land.

10 The mountains were covered with its shade.

≈ God’s cedars were covered by its branches.

11 It sent out its branches as far as the sea

≈ and its shoots to the Euphrates River.

12 Why have you broken down the walls around it

→ so that all who pass by along the road pick its fruit?

13 The boars out of the forest ruin it,

≈ and the animals in the countryside feed on it.

14 Turn back, army commander God.

Look down from heaven and take notice and take care of this grapevine.

15 This is the root that you planted by your power—

the shoot that you made grow.

16 It has been cut down and burnt.

They perish at your rebuke.

17 May your hand be on the man you’ve given your power to—

on the son of humanity who you made strong for yourself.

18 Then we won’t turn away from you.

Revive us, and we’ll always pray to you.

19 Army commander Yahweh God, restore us.

Show us your favour and then we’ll be saved.