Prayers & Prayer Services: Psalm 80

Psalm 80 bears the heading “A Prayer for the Restoration of Israel” in the pocket edition of the New Jerusalem Bible, a commonly used translation. The New American Bible calls it a “Prayer: To Restore God’s Vineyard.”

Upon reading the psalm, it becomes obvious that it is also well suited as a prayer for those working for a restoration of the Church, which has long been led far from Christ’s vision of the Kingdom of God. In the words of the psalm, ravaged Israel stands as a symbol for the Church.

The Refrain/Antiphon here has been taken from the text of the psalm itself, something very commonly done in the formation of a liturgy. In other times, suitable refrains/antiphons were newly composed for the psalm to express some sentiment or plea of the worshipping community. Such antiphons can surely be composed for other psalms deemed suitable for a particular situation.

Finally, we propose one other refrain/antiphon from the psalm itself that would be an accurate and moving declaration of what is in the hearts of those seeking reform.

Psalm 80

Leader: God, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be safe.

All: God, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be safe.

Leader: Shepherd of Israel, listen, you who lead Joseph like a flock, enthroned on the winged creatures, shine forth over Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh; rouse your valor and come to our help.

All: God, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be safe.

Leader: Yahweh, our God Sabaoth, how long will you flare up at your people’s prayer? You have made tears their food, redoubled tears their drink. You let our neighbors quarrel over us, our enemies mock us.

All: God, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be safe.

Leader: You brought a vine out of Egypt, to plant it you drove out nations; you cleared a space for it, it took root and filled the whole country. The mountains were covered with its shade, and the cedars of God with its branches, its boughs stretched as far as the sea, its shoots as far as the River.

All: God, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be safe.

Leader: Why have you broken down its fences? Every passer-by plucks its grapes, boars from the forest tear at it, wild beasts feed on it. God Sabaoth, come back, we pray, look down from heaven and see, visit this vine; protect what your own hand has planted. They have thrown it on the fire like dung, the frown of your rebuke will destroy them.

All: God, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be safe.

Leader: May your hand protect those at your side, the child of Adam you have strengthened for yourself! Never again will we turn away from you, give us life and we will call upon your name.

All: God Sabaoth, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be safe.

Alternative Refrain/Antiphon

A powerful alternative refrain/antiphon would be v. 17: “May your hand protect those at your side, the child of Adam you have strengthened for yourself.”

Experiment with praying the psalm using this verse as a refrain at suitable places in the text. Also note that this verse could be used as a refrain in other psalms. For example, pray psalm 102, inserting it at suitable places.

Such a refrain leaves us with a powerful biblical thought and forms what centering prayer folk call “an active prayer” that can be repeated throughout the day and at other times, in the manner of “aspirations,” as they were once called.

An Alternate Psalm Version

Although translations of the Psalms from the Hebrew Bible are the preferred readings for the official liturgy and worship of the Catholic Church, some people find some expressions from these translations a little off-putting and archaic. We provide an alternative version which is really a paraphrasing of the original that uses contemporary language. (For such paraphrasing of the entire Psalter, we refer people to Nan Merrill’s book Psalms for Praying.)

Psalm 80 from Psalms for Praying by Nan Merrill

Eternal Listener, give heed to your people,
You, who are our Guide and our Light!
You, who dwell amidst the angels, shine forth into the heart of all nations!
Enliven your people with compassion that peace and Justice might flourish.

Restore us, O Holy One;
Let your face shine upon us,
Teach us to love.

Gentle Teacher, help us to turn to You in prayer,
Fasting from our negative thoughts.
In your steadfast love, You weep with our tears,
That rise from fear, doubt, and illusion.
You uphold us when we feel the sting of pride,
When our anxiety threatens to paralyze us.

Restore us, O Holy one;
Let your face shine upon us, teach us to love!

You companion us through the wilderness,
through the shadows created by fear.
You plant your Seed into each heart.
You uproot the weeds of our sin,
You cultivate the soil of our goodness.
Truly, in You, we become like a tiny acorn,
holding the secrets of a mighty oak.
You nourish us with the food of Love, with streams of Living Water.
Be our strength as we break down walls that separate and divide;
let not fear pluck away the gifts we would share.
Roll away the stones that become obstacles to growth, to producing a bountiful harvest.
Restore us, O Holy One! Let your face shine upon us, teach us to love!
Receive our gratitude, O Heart of all hearts!
Look upon us and see what Love can do;
Rejoice in the new birth that You create!
Be glad where your Seed has found fertile soil.
How much more the return of one healthy plant than ten thousand useless weeds!
May those who have borne the fruit of love
radiate your Spirit into the world!
May we always walk and co-create with You;
Receive the gratitude of our hearts as we share in the Great Plan!

Restore us, O Holy One!
Let your face shine upon us, teach us to love!