Read the Bible

¹ Shepherd of Israel, you lead
    the descendants of Joseph,
and you sit on your throne
    above the winged creatures.^[a]
Listen to our prayer
    and let your light shine
²     for the tribes of Ephraim,
Benjamin, and Manasseh.
    Save us by your power.

³ Our God, make us strong again!
    Smile on us and save us.

⁴ Lord God All-Powerful,
    how much longer
    will the prayers of your people
    make you angry?
⁵ You gave us tears for food,
    and you made us drink them
    by the bowlful.
⁶ Because of you,
our enemies who live nearby
    laugh and joke about us.
⁷ But if you smile on us,
    we will be saved.

⁸ We were like a grapevine
    you brought out of Egypt.
    You chased other nations away
    and planted us here.
⁹ Then you cleared the ground,
    and we put our roots deep,
    spreading over the land.
¹⁰ Shade from this vine covered
    the mountains.
Its branches
climbed
the mighty cedars
¹¹     and stretched to the sea;
    its new growth reached
    to the river.^[b]

¹² Our Lord, why have you
torn down the wall
    from around the vineyard?
You let everyone who walks by
    pick the grapes.
¹³     Now the vine is gobbled down
by pigs from the forest
    and other wild animals.

¹⁴ God All-Powerful,
    please do something!
Look down from heaven
and see what's happening
    to this vine.
¹⁵ With your own hands
    you planted its roots,
and you raised it
    as your very own.

¹⁶ Enemies chopped the vine down
    and set it on fire.
    Now show your anger
    and destroy them.
¹⁷ But help the one who sits
    at your right side,^[c]
    the one you raised
    to be your own.
¹⁸ Then we will never turn away.
    Put new life into us,
    and we will worship you.

¹⁹ Lord God All-Powerful,
make us strong again!
    Smile on us and save us.