To the chief musician upon Shoshannim, Eduth, A Psalm of Asaph.
8,6,8,6
1Hear, Isr'el's Shepherd! like a flock thou that dost Joseph guide; Shine forth, O thou that dost between the cherubims abide. |
2In Ephraim's, and Benjamin's and in Manasseh's sight, O come for our salvation; stir up thy strength and might. |
3Turn us again, O Lord our God, and upon us vouchsafe To make thy countenance to shine, and so we shall be safe. |
4O Lord of hosts, almighty God, how long shall kindled be Thy wrath against the prayer made by thine own folk to thee? |
5Thou tears of sorrow giv'st to them instead of bread to eat; Yea, tears instead of drink thou giv'st to them in measure great. |
6Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours round about; Our enemies among themselves at us do laugh and flout. |
7Turn us again, O God of hosts, and upon us vouchsafe To make thy countenance to shine, and so we shall be safe. |
8A vine from Egypt brought thou hast, by thine outstretched hand; And thou the heathen out didst cast, to plant it in their land. |
9Before it thou a room didst make, where it might grow and stand; Thou causedst it deep root to take, and it did fill the land. |
10The mountains vail'd were with its shade, as with a covering; Like goodly cedars were the boughs which out from it did spring. |
11Upon the one hand to the sea her boughs she did out send; On th' other side unto the flood her branches did extend. |
12Why hast thou then thus broken down, and ta'en her hedge away? So that all passengers do pluck, and make of her a prey. |
13The boar who from the forest comes doth waste it at his pleasure; The wild beast of the field also devours it out of measure. |
14O God of hosts, we thee beseech, return now unto thine; Look down from heav'n in love, behold, and visit this thy vine: |
15This vineyard, which thine own right hand hath planted us among; And that same branch, which for thyself thou hast made to be strong. |
16Burnt up it is with flaming fire, it also is cut down: They utterly are perished, when as thy face doth frown. |
17O let thy hand be still upon the Man of thy right hand, The Son of man, whom for thyself thou madest strong to stand. |
18So henceforth we will not go back, nor turn from thee at all: O do thou quicken us, and we upon thy name will call. |
19Turn us again, Lord God of hosts, and upon us vouchsafe To make thy countenance to shine, and so we shall be safe. |