1 To him that excelleth on Shoshannim Eduth. A Psalme committed to Asaph. Heare, O thou Shepheard of Israel, thou that leadest Ioseph like sheepe: shewe thy brightnes, thou that sittest betweene the Cherubims. 2 Before Ephraim and Beniamin and Manasseh stirre vp thy strength, and come to helpe vs. 3 Turne vs againe, O God, and cause thy face to shine that we may be saued. 4 O Lord God of hostes, how long wilt thou be angrie against the prayer of thy people? 5 Thou hast fedde them with the bread of teares, and giuen them teares to drinke with great measure. 6 Thou hast made vs a strife vnto our neighbours, and our enemies laugh at vs among themselues. 7 Turne vs againe, O God of hostes: cause thy face to shine, and we shalbe saued. 8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. 9 Thou madest roume for it, and didest cause it to take roote, and it filled the land. 10 The mountaines were couered with the shadowe of it, and the boughes thereof were like the goodly cedars. 11 Shee stretched out her branches vnto the Sea, and her boughes vnto the Riuer. 12 Why hast thou then broken downe her hedges, so that all they, which passe by the way, haue plucked her? 13 The wilde bore out of the wood hath destroyed it, and the wilde beastes of the fielde haue eaten it vp. 14 Returne we beseech thee, O God of hostes: looke downe from heauen and beholde and visite this vine, 15 And the vineyard, that thy right hand hath planted, and the young vine, which thou madest strong for thy selfe. 16 It is burnt with fire and cut downe: and they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. 17 Let thine hande be vpon the man of thy right hande, and vpon the sonne of man, whome thou madest strong for thine owne selfe. 18 So will not we goe backe from thee: reuiue thou vs, and we shall call vpon thy Name. 19 Turne vs againe, O Lord God of hostes: cause thy face to shine and we shalbe saued.
A Prayer for the Nation's Restoration
1 Listen to us, O Shepherd of Israel;
hear us, leader of your flock.
Seated on your throne above the winged creatures,
2 reveal yourself to the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Show us your strength;
come and save us!
3 Bring us back, O God!
Show us your mercy, and we will be saved!
4 How much longer, Lord God Almighty,
will you be angry with your people's prayers?
5 You have given us sorrow to eat,
a large cup of tears to drink.
6 You let the surrounding nations fight over our land;
our enemies insult us.
7 Bring us back, Almighty God!
Show us your mercy, and we will be saved!
8 You brought a grapevine out of Egypt;
you drove out other nations and planted it in their land.
9 You cleared a place for it to grow;
its roots went deep, and it spread out over the whole land.
10 It covered the hills with its shade;
its branches overshadowed the giant cedars.
11 It extended its branches to the Mediterranean Sea
and as far as the Euphrates River.
12 Why did you break down the fences around it?
Now anyone passing by can steal its grapes;
13 wild hogs trample it down,
and wild animals feed on it.
14 Turn to us, Almighty God!
Look down from heaven at us;
come and save your people!
15 Come and save this grapevine that you planted,
this young vine you made grow so strong!
16 Our enemies have set it on fire and cut it down;
look at them in anger and destroy them!
17 Preserve and protect the people you have chosen,
the nation you made so strong.
18 We will never turn away from you again;
keep us alive, and we will praise you.
19 Bring us back, Lord God Almighty.
Show us your mercy, and we will be saved.