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.