Font Size
Psalm 83-87
Contemporary English Version
Psalm 83-87
Contemporary English Version
(A song and a psalm by Asaph.)
God Rules All the Earth
1 Our God, don't just sit there,
silently doing nothing!
2 Your hateful enemies
are turning against you
and rebelling.
3 They are sly, and they plot
against those you treasure.
4 They say, “Let's wipe out
the nation of Israel
and make sure that no one
remembers its name!”
5 All of them fully agree
in their plans against you,
and among them are
6 Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia and Phoenicia.[a]
8 Even Assyria has joined forces
with Moab and Ammon.[b]
9 (A) Our Lord, punish all of them
as you punished Midian.
Destroy them, as you destroyed
Sisera and Jabin
at Kishon Creek 10 near Endor,
and let their bodies rot.
11 (B) Treat their leaders as you did
Oreb and Zeeb,
Zebah and Zalmunna.
12 All of them said, “We'll take
God's valuable land!”
13 Our God, scatter them around
like dust in a whirlwind.
14 Just as flames destroy forests
on the mountains,
15 pursue and terrify them
with storms of your own.
16 Make them blush with shame,
until they turn and worship
you, our Lord.
17 Let them be forever ashamed
and confused.
Let them die in disgrace.
18 Make them realize that you
are the Lord Most High,
the only ruler of earth!
(For the music leader.[c] A psalm by the clan of Korah.)
The Joy of Worship
1 Lord God All-Powerful,
your temple is so lovely!
2 Deep in my heart I long
for your temple,
and with all that I am
I sing joyful songs to you.
3 Lord God All-Powerful,
my King and my God,
sparrows find a home
near your altars;
swallows build nests there
to raise their young.
4 You bless everyone
who lives in your house,
and they sing your praises.
5 You bless all who depend
on you for their strength
and all who deeply desire
to visit your temple.
6 When they reach Dry Valley,[d]
springs start flowing,
and the autumn rain fills it
with pools of water.[e]
7 Your people grow stronger,
and you, the God of gods,
will be seen in Zion.
8 Lord God All-Powerful,
the God of Jacob,
please answer my prayer!
9 You are the shield
that protects your people,
and I am your chosen one.
Won't you smile on me?
10 One day in your temple
is better than a thousand
anywhere else.
I would rather serve
in your house,
than live in the homes
of the wicked.
11 Our Lord and our God,
you are like the sun
and also like a shield.
You treat us with kindness
and with honor,
never denying any good thing
to those who live right.
12 Lord God All-Powerful,
you bless everyone
who trusts you.
(A psalm by the clan of Korah for the music leader.)
A Prayer for Peace
1 Our Lord, you have blessed
your land
and made all go well
for Jacob's descendants.
2 You have forgiven the sin
and taken away the guilt
of your people.
3 Your fierce anger is no longer
aimed at us.
4 Our Lord and our God,
you save us!
Please bring us back home
and don't be angry.
5 Will you always be angry
with us and our families?
6 Won't you give us fresh life
and let your people be glad
because of you?
7 Show us your love
and save us!
8 I will listen to you, Lord God,
because you promise peace
to those who are faithful
and no longer foolish.
9 You are ready to rescue
everyone who worships you,
so that you will live with us
in all your glory.
10 Love and loyalty
will come together;
goodness and peace
will unite.
11 Loyalty will sprout
from the ground;
justice will look down
from the sky above.
12 Our Lord, you will bless us;
our land will produce
wonderful crops.
13 Justice will march in front,
making a path
for you to follow.
(A prayer by David.)
A Prayer for Help
1 Please listen, Lord,
and answer my prayer!
I am poor and helpless.
2 Protect me and save me
because you are my God.
I am your faithful servant,
and I trust you.
3 Be kind to me!
I pray to you all day.
4 Make my heart glad!
I serve you,
and my prayer is sincere.
5 You willingly forgive,
and your love is always there
for those who pray to you.
6 Please listen, Lord!
Answer my prayer for help.
7 When I am in trouble, I pray,
knowing you will listen.
8 No other gods are like you;
only you work miracles.
9 (C) You created each nation,
and they will all bow down
to worship and honor you.
10 You perform great wonders
because you alone are God.
11 Teach me to follow you,
and I will obey your truth.
Always keep me faithful.
12 With all my heart I thank you.
I praise you, Lord God.
13 Your love for me is so great
that you protected me
from death and the grave.
14 Proud and violent enemies,
who don't care about you,
have ganged up to attack
and kill me.
15 But you, the Lord God,
are kind and merciful.
You don't easily get angry,
and your love
can always be trusted.
16 I serve you, Lord,
and I am the child
of one of your servants.
Look on me with kindness.
Make me strong and save me.
17 Show that you approve of me!
Then my hateful enemies
will feel like fools,
because you have helped
and comforted me.
(A psalm and a song by the clan of Korah.)
The Glory of Mount Zion
1 Zion was built by the Lord
on the holy mountain,
2 and he loves that city
more than any other place
in all of Israel.
3 Zion, you are the city of God,
and wonderful things
are told about you.
4 Egypt,[f] Babylonia, Philistia,
Phoenicia,[g] and Ethiopia[h]
are some of those nations
that know you,
and their people all say,
“I was born in Zion.”
5 God Most High will strengthen
the city of Zion.
Then everyone will say,
“We were born here too.”
6 The Lord will make a list
of his people,
and all who were born here
will be included.
7 All who sing or dance will say,
“I too am from Zion.”
Footnotes
- 83.7 Phoenicia: The Hebrew text has “Tyre,” the main city in Phoenicia.
- 83.8 Moab and Ammon: The Hebrew text has “the descendants of Lot,” whose older daughter was the mother of the Moabites and whose younger daughter was the mother of the Ammonites (see Genesis 19.30-38).
- Psalm 84 leader: See the note at Psalm 8.
- 84.6 Dry Valley: Or “Balsam Tree Valley.” The exact location is not known.
- 84.6 and … water: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 87.4 Egypt: The Hebrew text has “Rahab,” the name of a monster that stands for Egypt (see Isaiah 30.7).
- 87.4 Phoenicia: See the note at 83.7.
- 87.4 Ethiopia: The Hebrew text has “Cush,” which was a region south of Egypt that included parts of the present countries of Ethiopia and Sudan.
Psalm 83-87
New International Version
Psalm 83-87
New International Version
Psalm 83[a]
A song. A psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, do not remain silent;(A)
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.
2 See how your enemies growl,(B)
how your foes rear their heads.(C)
3 With cunning they conspire(D) against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.(E)
4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy(F) them as a nation,(G)
so that Israel’s name is remembered(H) no more.”
5 With one mind they plot together;(I)
they form an alliance against you—
6 the tents of Edom(J) and the Ishmaelites,
of Moab(K) and the Hagrites,(L)
7 Byblos,(M) Ammon(N) and Amalek,(O)
Philistia,(P) with the people of Tyre.(Q)
8 Even Assyria(R) has joined them
to reinforce Lot’s descendants.[b](S)
9 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)
Psalm 84[c]
For the director of music. According to gittith.[d] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,(AM)
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns,(AN) even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.(AO)
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,(AP)
Lord Almighty,(AQ) my King(AR) and my God.(AS)
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.[e]
5 Blessed are those whose strength(AT) is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(AU)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;(AV)
the autumn(AW) rains also cover it with pools.[f]
7 They go from strength to strength,(AX)
till each appears(AY) before God in Zion.(AZ)
8 Hear my prayer,(BA) Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[g](BB) O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.(BC)
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(BD) in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(BE) and shield;(BF)
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(BG)
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed(BH) is the one who trusts in you.
Psalm 85[h]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes(BI) of Jacob.
2 You forgave(BJ) the iniquity(BK) of your people
and covered all their sins.[i]
3 You set aside all your wrath(BL)
and turned from your fierce anger.(BM)
4 Restore(BN) us again, God our Savior,(BO)
and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?(BP)
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive(BQ) us again,
that your people may rejoice(BR) in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love,(BS) Lord,
and grant us your salvation.(BT)
8 I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace(BU) to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.(BV)
9 Surely his salvation(BW) is near those who fear him,
that his glory(BX) may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness(BY) meet together;
righteousness(BZ) and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness(CA) looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,(CB)
and our land will yield(CC) its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
Psalm 86
A prayer of David.
1 Hear me, Lord, and answer(CD) me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.(CE)
You are my God; 3 have mercy(CF) on me, Lord,
for I call(CG) to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust(CH) in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love(CI) to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry(CJ) for mercy.
7 When I am in distress,(CK) I call(CL) to you,
because you answer(CM) me.
8 Among the gods(CN) there is none like you,(CO) Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come(CP) and worship(CQ) before you, Lord;
they will bring glory(CR) to your name.
10 For you are great(CS) and do marvelous deeds;(CT)
you alone(CU) are God.
11 Teach me your way,(CV) Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;(CW)
give me an undivided(CX) heart,
that I may fear(CY) your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;(CZ)
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me(DA) from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.(DB)
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.(DC)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious(DD) God,
slow to anger,(DE) abounding(DF) in love and faithfulness.(DG)
16 Turn to me(DH) and have mercy(DI) on me;
show your strength(DJ) in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.(DK)
17 Give me a sign(DL) of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Psalm 87
Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.
1 He has founded his city on the holy mountain.(DM)
2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion(DN)
more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are said of you,
city of God:[j](DO)
4 “I will record Rahab[k](DP) and Babylon
among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia(DQ) too, and Tyre(DR), along with Cush[l]—
and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”[m](DS)
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
“This one and that one were born in her,
and the Most High himself will establish her.”
6 The Lord will write in the register(DT) of the peoples:
“This one was born in Zion.”
Footnotes
- Psalm 83:1 In Hebrew texts 83:1-18 is numbered 83:2-19.
- Psalm 83:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
- Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
- Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
- Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
- Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
- Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 87:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
- Psalm 87:4 A poetic name for Egypt
- Psalm 87:4 That is, the upper Nile region
- Psalm 87:4 Or “I will record concerning those who acknowledge me: / ‘This one was born in Zion.’ / Hear this, Rahab and Babylon, / and you too, Philistia, Tyre and Cush.”
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.