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.