1 For the choir director; according to shoshannim eduth; by Asaph; a psalm. Open your ears, O Shepherd of Israel, the one who leads the descendants of Joseph like sheep, the one who is enthroned over the angels. 2 Appear in front of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Wake up your power, and come to save us. 3 O God, restore us and smile on us so that we may be saved. 4 O LORD God, commander of armies, how long will you smolder in anger against the prayer of your people? 5 You made them eat tears as food. You often made them drink their own tears. 6 You made us a source of conflict to our neighbors, and our enemies made fun of us. 7 O God, commander of armies, restore us and smile on us so that we may be saved. 8 You brought a vine from Egypt. You forced out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground for it so that it took root and filled the land. 10 Its shade covered the mountains. Its branches covered the mighty cedars. 11 It reached out with its branches to the Mediterranean Sea. Its shoots reached the Euphrates River. 12 Why did you break down the stone fences around this vine? All who pass by are picking its fruit. 13 Wild boars from the forest graze on it. Wild animals devour it. 14 O God, commander of armies, come back! Look from heaven and see! Come to help this vine. 15 Take care of what your right hand planted, the son you strengthened for yourself. 16 The vine has been cut down and burned. Let them be destroyed by the threatening look on your face. 17 Let your power rest on the man you have chosen, the son of man you strengthened for yourself. 18 Then we will never turn away from you. Give us life again, and we will call on you. 19 O LORD God, commander of armies, restore us, and smile on us so that we may be saved. GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. | |