Psalm 79

A Prayer for the Nation’s Deliverance 1 O God, the heathen have invaded your land. They have desecrated your holy Temple and left Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They left the bodies of your people for the vultures, the bodies of your servants for wild animals to eat. 3 They shed your people’s blood like water; […]

Psalm 80

A Prayer for the Nation’s Restoration 1 Listen to us, O Shepherd of Israel; hear us, leader of your flock. Seated on your throne above the winged creatures, 2 reveal yourself to the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Show us your strength; come and save us! 3 Bring us back, O God! Show us […]

Psalm 81

A Song for a Festival 1 Shout for joy to God our defender; sing praise to the God of Jacob! 2 Start the music and beat the tambourines; play pleasant music on the harps and the lyres. 3 Blow the trumpet for the festival, when the moon is new and when the moon is full. […]

Psalm 82

God the Supreme Ruler 1 God presides in the heavenly council; in the assembly of the gods he gives his decision: 2 “You must stop judging unjustly; you must no longer be partial to the wicked! 3 Defend the rights of the poor and the orphans; be fair to the needy and the helpless. 4 […]

Psalm 83

A Prayer for the Defeat of Israel’s Enemies 1 O God, do not keep silent; do not be still, do not be quiet! 2 Look! Your enemies are in revolt, and those who hate you are rebelling. 3 They are making secret plans against your people; they are plotting against those you protect. 4 “Come,” […]

Psalm 84

Longing for God’s House 1 How I love your Temple, Lord Almighty! 2 How I want to be there! I long to be in the Lord’s Temple. With my whole being I sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the sparrows have built a nest, and the swallows have their own home; they […]

Psalm 85

A Prayer for the Nation’s Welfare 1 Lord, you have been merciful to your land; you have made Israel prosperous again. 2 You have forgiven your people’s sins and pardoned all their wrongs. 3 You stopped being angry with them and held back your furious rage. 4 Bring us back, O God our savior, and […]

Psalm 86

A Prayer for Help 1 Listen to me, Lord, and answer me, for I am helpless and weak. 2 Save me from death, because I am loyal to you; save me, for I am your servant and I trust in you. 3 You are my God, so be merciful to me; I pray to you […]

Psalm 87

In Praise of Jerusalem 1 The Lord built his city on the sacred hill; 2 more than any other place in Israel he loves the city of Jerusalem. 3 Listen, city of God, to the wonderful things he says about you: 4 “I will include Egypt and Babylonia when I list the nations that obey […]

Psalm 88

A Cry for Help 1 Lord God, my savior, I cry out all day, and at night I come before you. 2 Hear my prayer; listen to my cry for help! 3 So many troubles have fallen on me that I am close to death. 4 I am like all others who are about to […]