Psalm 79.  Qui regis Israël

The song of the wasted vineyard

This Psalm is a poetic elegy:  Israel (the Church), once God's fruitful vineyard, is now a desolate waste.  The psalmist prays for a renewal of the former glory of his people.  The parable is particularly well done, and the fervent refrain heightens the thought of lamentation.

First strophe:  Plea for aid

Qui regis Israël, inténde: * qui dedúcis velut ovem Joseph.
2  Qui sedes super Chérubim: * manifestáre coram Ephraim, Bénjamin, et Manásse.
3  Excita poténtiam tuam, et veni: * ut salvos fácias nos.
4  Deus, convérte nos: * et osténde fáciem tuam, et salvi érimus.

Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, * thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep.
2  Thou that sittest upon the Cherubim : * shew thyself also before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
3  Stir up thy strength, and come * to save us.
4  Turn thou us, O God; * shew us thy countenance, and we shall be saved.

Second strophe:  Lament over the ruin

5  Dómine, Deus virtútum, * quoúsque irascéris super oratiónem servi tui?
6  Cibábis nos pane lacrimárum: * et potum dabis nobis in lácrimis in mensúra?
7  Posuísti nos in contradictiónem vicínis nostris: * et inimíci nostri subsannavérunt nos.
8  Deus virtútum, convérte nos: * et osténde fáciem tuam, et salvi érimus.

5  O Lord God of hosts, * how long wilt thou be angry with the prayer of thy people?
6  How long wilt thou feed us with the bread of tears, * and give us plenteousness of tears to drink.
7  Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours, * and our enemies have laughed us to scorn.
8  Turn thou us, O God of hosts : * shew us thy countenance, and we shall be saved.

Third strophe:  Former care

9  Víneam de Ægypto transtulísti: * ejecísti Gentes, et plantásti eam.
10  Dux itíneris fuísti in conspéctu ejus: * plantásti radíces ejus, et implévit terram.
11  Opéruit montes umbra ejus: * et arbústa ejus cedros Dei.
12  Exténdit pálmites suos usque ad mare: * et usque ad flumen propágines ejus.
13  Ut quid destruxísti macériam ejus: * et vindémiant eam omnes, qui prætergrediúntur viam?
14  Exterminávit eam aper de silva: * et singuláris ferus depástus est eam.
15  Deus virtútum, convértere: * réspice de cælo, et vide, et vísita víneam istam.

9  Thou hast brought a vineyard out of Egypt; * thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
10  Thou wast the guide of its journey in its sight; * thou hast planted the roots thereof, and it filled the land.
11  The hills were covered with the shadow thereof, * and its boughs were as the cedar-trees of God.
12  It stretched out its branches unto the sea, * and its boughs unto the river.
13  Why hast thou then broken down its hedge, * that all they that go by pluck off the grapes thereof?
14  The wild boar out of the wood hath laid it waste, * and the wild beasts of the forest one by one have devoured it.
15  Turn thee again, thou God of hosts, * look down from heaven, behold, and visit thou this vineyard.

Fourth strophe:  Plea for restoration

16  Et pérfice eam, quam plantávit déxtera tua: * et super fílium hóminis, quem confirmásti tibi.
17  Incénsa igni, et suffóssa: * ab increpatióne vultus tui períbunt.
18  Fiat manus tua super virum déxteræ tuæ: * et super fílium hóminis quem confirmásti tibi.
19  Et non discédimus a te, vivificábis nos: * et nomen tuum invocábimus.
20  Dómine, Deus virtútum, convérte nos: * et osténde fáciem tuam, et salvi érimus.

16  And perfect the same that thy right hand hath planted, * and upon the son of man, whom thou hast confirmed for thine own self.
17  The things burnt with fire and cut down * shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
18  Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, * and upon the son of man, whom thou hast confirmed for thine own self.
19  And we will not depart from thee, and thou shalt quicken us : * and we will call upon thy Name.
20  Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts; * shew us thy countenance, and we shall be saved.