Psalm 80
One of nine Psalms done into metre by John Milton during April, 1648.
Words in brackets are words that are different from the text of the Psalm as it was in Milton's Bible.
1 Thou Shepherd that dost Israel [keep]
Give ear [in time of need,]
Who leadest like a flock of sheep
[Thy loved ones] Josephs seed,
That sitt'st between the Cherubs [bright]
[Between their wings out-spread]
Shine forth, [and from thy cloud give light,]
[And on our foes thy dread.]
2 In Ephraims view and Benjamins,
And in Manasse's sight
Awake thy strength, come, and [be seen]
[To] save us [by thy might.]
3 Turn us again, [thy grace divine]
[To us] O God [vouchsafe;]
Cause thou thy face on us to shine
And then we shall be safe.
4 Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou,
How long wilt thou declare
Thy smoaking wrath, [and angry brow]
Against thy peoples praire.
5 Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears,
Their bread with tears they eat,
And mak'st them largely drink the tears
[Wherwith their cheeks are wet.]
6 A strife thou mak'st us and a prey
To every neighbour foe,
Among themselves they laugh, they play,
And flouts at us they throw.
7 Return us, [and thy grace divine,]
O God of Hosts [vouchsafe]
Cause thou thy face on us to shine,
And then we shall be safe.
8 Vine from Aegypt thou hast brought,
[Thy free love made it thine,]
And drov'st out Nations proud and haut
To plant this [lovely] Vine.
9 Thou did'st prepare for it a place
And root it deep and fast
That it [began to grow apace,]
[And] fill'd the land [at last.]
10 With her [green] shade [that] cover'd [all,]
The Hills were [over-spread]
Her Bows as [high] as Cedars tall
[Advanc'd their lofty head.]
11 Her branches [on the western side]
Down to the Sea she sent,
And [upward] to that river [wide]
Her other branches [went.]
12 Why hast thou laid her Hedges low
And brok'n down her Fence,
That all may pluck her, as they go,
[With rudest violence?]
13 The [tusked] Boar out of the wood
Up turns it by the roots,
Wild Beasts there brouze, and make their food
[Her Grapes and tender Shoots.]
14 Return now, God of Hosts, look down
From Heav'n, thy Seat divine,
Behold [us, but without a frown,]
And visit this [thy] Vine.
15 Visit this Vine, which thy right hand
Hath set, and planted [long,]
And the young branch, that for thy self
Thou hast made firm and strong.
16 But now it is consum'd with fire,
And cut [with Axes] down,
They perish at thy dreadfull ire,
At thy rebuke and frown.
17 Upon the man of thy right hand
Let thy [good] hand be [laid,]
Upon the Son of Man, whom thou
Strong for thyself hast made.
18 So shall we not go back from thee
[To wayes of sin and shame,]
Quick'n us thou, then [gladly] wee
Shall call upon thy Name.
Return us, [and thy grace divine]
Lord God of Hosts [vouchsafe,]
Cause thou thy face on us to shine,
And then we shall be safe.
