Psalms 79; Psalms 80; Romans 11:1-18

1 God, an army from the nations has attacked your land. They have polluted your holy temple. They have completely destroyed Jerusalem.

2 They have given the dead bodies of your people as food to the birds of the air. They have given the bodies of your faithful people to the animals of the earth.

3 They have poured out the blood of your people like water all around Jerusalem. No one is left to bury the dead.

4 We are something our neighbors joke about. The nations around us laugh at us and make fun of us.

5 Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Will it be forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out your burning anger on the nations that don't pay any attention to you. Pour it out on the kingdoms that don't worship you.

7 They have swallowed up the people of Jacob. They have destroyed Israel's homeland.

8 Don't hold against us the sins of our people who lived before us. May you be quick to show us your tender love. We are in great need.

9 God our Savior, help us. Then glory will come to you. Be true to your name. Save us and forgive our sins.

10 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Show the nations that you punish those who kill your people. We want to see it happen.

11 Listen to the groans of the prisoners. Use your powerful arm to save the lives of those who have been sentenced to death.

12 Lord, our neighbors have laughed at you. Pay them back seven times for what they have done.

13 We are your people. We are your very own sheep. We will praise you forever. For all time to come we will keep on praising you.

1 Shepherd of Israel, hear us. You lead the people of Joseph like a flock. You sit on your throne between the cherubim. Show your glory

2 to the people of Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Call your strength into action. Come and save us.

3 God, make us new again. Let your face smile on us with favor. Then we will be saved.

4 LORD God who rules over all, how long will your anger burn against the prayers of your people?

5 You have given us tears as our food. You have made us drink tears by the bowlful.

6 You have let our neighbors fight against us. Our enemies laugh at us.

7 God who rules over all, make us new again. Let your face smile on us with favor. Then we will be saved.

8 You brought Israel out of Egypt. Israel was like a vine. After you drove the nations out of Canaan, you planted the vine in their land.

9 You prepared the ground for it. It took root and spread out over the whole land.

10 The mountains were covered with its shade. The shade of its branches covered the mighty cedar trees.

11 Your vine sent its branches out all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. They reached as far as the Euphrates River.

12 Why have you broken down the walls around your vine? Now all who pass by it can pick its grapes.

13 Wild pigs from the forest destroy it. The creatures of the field feed on it.

14 God who rules over all, return to us! Look down from heaven and see us! Watch over your vine.

15 Guard the root you have planted with your powerful right hand. Take care of the branch you have raised up for yourself.

16 Your vine has been cut down. Fire has burned it up. You have been angry with us, and we are dying.

17 May you honor the people at your right hand. May you honor the nation you have raised up for yourself.

18 Then we won't turn away from you. Give us new life. We will worship you.

19 LORD God who rules over all, make us new again. Let your face smile on us with favor. Then we will be saved.

1 So here is what I ask. Did God turn his back on his people? Not at all! I myself belong to Israel. I am one of Abraham's children. I am from the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God didn't turn his back on his people. After all, he chose them. Don't you know what Scripture says about Elijah? He complained to God about Israel.

3 He said, "Lord, they have killed your prophets. They have torn down your altars. I'm the only one left. And they are trying to kill me."(1 Kings 19:10,14)

4 How did God answer him? God said, "I have kept 7,000 people for myself. They have not bowed down to Baal."(1 Kings 19:18)

5 Some are also faithful today. They have been chosen by God's grace.

6 And if they are chosen by grace, it is no longer a matter of working for it. If it were, grace wouldn't be grace anymore.

7 What should we say then? Israel did not receive what they wanted so badly. But those who were chosen did. God made the rest of them stubborn.

8 It is written, "God made it hard for them to understand. He gave them eyes that could not see. He gave them ears that could not hear. And they are still like that today." (Deuteronomy 29:4; Isaiah 29:10)

9 David says, "Let their feast be a trap and a snare. Let it make Israel trip and fall. Let Israel get what's coming to them.

10 Let their eyes grow dark so they can't see. Let their backs be bent forever." (Psalm 69:22,23)

11 Again, here is what I ask. They didn't trip and fall once and for all time, did they? Not at all! Because Israel sinned, those who aren't Jews can be saved. That will make Israel jealous of them.

12 Israel's sin brought riches to the world. Their loss brought riches to the non-Jews. What greater riches will come when all Israel turns to God!

13 I am talking to you who are not Jews. I am the apostle to the non-Jews. So I think the work I do for God and others is very important.

14 I hope somehow to stir up my own people to want what you have. Perhaps I can save some of them.

15 When they were not accepted, it became possible for the whole world to be brought back to God. So what will happen when they are accepted? It will be like life from the dead.

16 The first handful of dough that is offered is holy. This makes all of the dough holy. If the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 Some of the natural branches have been broken off. You are a wild olive branch. But you have been joined to the tree with the other branches. Now you enjoy the life-giving sap of the olive tree root.

18 So don't think you are better than the other branches. Remember, you don't give life to the root. The root gives life to you.