Commentary on Psalms - Volume 5

To the Chief Musician upon Shoshannim Eduth. A Psalm of Asaph

1O Shepherd of Israel, give ear! Who leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou who sittest between the cherubim, shine forth.

2Before Ephraim, and Benjamin, and Manasseh, Stir up thy strength, and come for our salvation.

3Turn us again, O God! and cause to shine thy face, And we shall be safe.

4O Jehovah God of armies! How long wilt thou be incensed against the prayer of thy people?

5Thou hast fed us with bread of tears; And hast given us tears to drink in great measure.

6Thou hast made us a strife to our neighbors: And our enemies laugh at us among themselves.

7O God of armies! turn us again, And cause to shine thy face upon us, And we shall be safe.

8A vine out of Egypt thou hast brought: Thou hast expelled the heathen, and planted it,.

9Thou hast cleansed the ground before it: Thou hast rooted its roots, And it hath filled the land.

10Covered were the mountains with its shadow, And its branches were like the cedars of God.

11It sent forth its branches to the sea, And to the river its shoots.

12Why then hast thou broken down its hedges, So that tear it in pieces do all who pass by the way?

13Wasted it hath the boar out of the forest; And the wild beast of the field hath eaten it up.

14O God of armies! return, I beseech thee, Look down from heaven, and behold, And visit this vine,

15And the vineyard which planted hath thy right hand, And [look] upon the shoot ³⁵⁰ which thou hast strengthened for thyself.

16It is burnt with fire; it is cut down; At the rebuke of thy countenance they perish.

17Let thy hand be upon the Man of thy right hand, Upon the son of man whom thou hast strengthened for thyself,

18And we will not go back from thee: Thou shalt quicken us, and upon thy name we will call.

19O Jehovah, God of armies! turn us again; Cause to shine thy face, And we shall be safe.