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Psalm 83

A song. A Psalm of Asaph.

Keep not silence, O God; hold not Your peace or be still, O God.

For, behold, Your enemies are in tumult, and those who hate You have raised their heads.(A)

They lay crafty schemes against Your people and consult together against Your hidden and precious ones.

They have said, Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be in remembrance no more.

For they have consulted together with one accord and one heart; against You they make a covenant—

The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites,

Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre.

Assyria also has joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot [the Ammonites and the Moabites] and have been an arm to them. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

Do to them as [You did to] the Midianites, as to Sisera and Jabin at the brook of Kishon,(B)

10 Who perished at Endor, who became like manure for the earth.

11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, yes, all their princes as Zebah and Zalmunna,(C)

12 Who say, Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God.

13 O my God, make them like whirling dust, like stubble or chaff before the wind!

14 As fire consumes the forest, and as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,

15 So pursue and afflict them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your tornado or hurricane.

16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek, inquire for, and insistently require Your name, O Lord.

17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; yes, let them be put to shame and perish,

18 That they may know that You, Whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.

Psalm 83[a]

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

O God, do not remain silent;(A)
    do not turn a deaf ear,
    do not stand aloof, O God.
See how your enemies growl,(B)
    how your foes rear their heads.(C)
With cunning they conspire(D) against your people;
    they plot against those you cherish.(E)
“Come,” they say, “let us destroy(F) them as a nation,(G)
    so that Israel’s name is remembered(H) no more.”

With one mind they plot together;(I)
    they form an alliance against you—
the tents of Edom(J) and the Ishmaelites,
    of Moab(K) and the Hagrites,(L)
Byblos,(M) Ammon(N) and Amalek,(O)
    Philistia,(P) with the people of Tyre.(Q)
Even Assyria(R) has joined them
    to reinforce Lot’s descendants.[b](S)

Do to them as you did to Midian,(T)
    as you did to Sisera(U) and Jabin(V) at the river Kishon,(W)
10 who perished at Endor(X)
    and became like dung(Y) on the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,(Z)
    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,(AA)
12 who said, “Let us take possession(AB)
    of the pasturelands of God.”

13 Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
    like chaff(AC) before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest
    or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,(AD)
15 so pursue them with your tempest(AE)
    and terrify them with your storm.(AF)
16 Cover their faces with shame,(AG) Lord,
    so that they will seek your name.

17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;(AH)
    may they perish in disgrace.(AI)
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord(AJ)
    that you alone are the Most High(AK) over all the earth.(AL)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 83:1 In Hebrew texts 83:1-18 is numbered 83:2-19.
  2. Psalm 83:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.