Psalms – Chapter 80

Old Testament17 Verses

Chapter Summary

"Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for Asaph himself." — so begins Psalms 80. The chapter centers on Jacob and Joseph. Across its 17 verses, two threads run through the text: worship and praise and sin and divine judgment. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for Asaph himself.

2Rejoice to God our helper: sing aloud to the God of Jacob.

3Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel: the pleasant psaltery with the harp.

4Blow up the trumpet on the new moon, on the noted day of your solemnity.

5For it is a commandment in Israel, and a judgment to the God of Jacob.

6He ordained it for a testimony in Joseph, when he came out of the land of Egypt: he heard a tongue which he knew not.

7He removed his back from the burdens: his hands had served in baskets.

8Thou calledst upon me in affliction, and I delivered thee: I heard thee in the secret place of tempest: I proved thee at the waters of contradiction.

9Hear, O my people, and I will testify to thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken to me,

10there shall be no new god in thee: neither shalt thou adore a strange god.

11For I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

12But my people heard not my voice: and Israel hearkened not to me.

13So I let them go according to the desires of their heart: they shall walk in their own inventions.

14If my people had heard me: if Israel had walked in my ways:

15I should soon have humbled their enemies, and laid my hand on them that troubled them.

16The enemies of the Lord have lied to him: and their time shall be for ever.

17And he fed them with the fat of wheat, and filled them with honey out of the rock.

Important Verses in Psalms 80

Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for Asaph himself.

Psalms 80:1

For it is a commandment in Israel, and a judgment to the God of Jacob.

Psalms 80:5

For I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalms 80:11

The enemies of the Lord have lied to him: and their time shall be for ever.

Psalms 80:16

Historical Context

Psalms belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for god's people at prayer in every age. Chapter 80 of 150 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a liturgical poem composed for Temple worship and personal prayer with 17 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Jacob and Joseph appear at the center of the events recorded here. The chapter begins: "Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for Asaph himself." It concludes: "And he fed them with the fat of wheat, and filled them with honey out of the rock. " Read against its original backdrop, The 150 Psalms are the inspired prayer book of Israel and of the Church, spanning every human emotion—praise, lament, thanksgiving, repentance, and hope. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile.

Who Wrote It

David is credited with many psalms; others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and anonymous psalmists

When It Was Written

Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile

Catholic Commentary

The poem's language was meant to be prayed aloud, giving voice to the full range of human experience before the Lord. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for Asaph himself." The passage repeatedly touches on worship and praise.

Catholic exegesis reads Psalms 80 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589). St. Jerome and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1431).

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.
  • The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.

People in This Chapter

Jacob2 mentionsJoseph1 mention

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Psalms Chapter 80 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. Thomas Aquinas and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589). The passage calls believers to grasp that God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him.

May your reading of Psalms Chapter 80 become true lectio divina: read the words, meditate on their meaning, respond in prayer, and rest in God's presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to show how God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him applies to your life today.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Psalms Chapter 80 about?

Psalms 80 contains 17 verses. It opens with "Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for Asaph himself." and closes with "And he fed them with the fat of wheat, and filled them with honey out of the rock. ". The book as a whole is liturgical poetry and prayer.

What is a key verse in Psalms 80?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for Asaph himself." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Psalms Chapter 80?

This chapter mentions Jacob, Joseph.

Who wrote Psalms and when?

David is credited with many psalms; others by Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and anonymous psalmists. Composed across nearly a millennium, from David (c. 1000 BC) to after the exile.

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