Psalms 83
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Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:
12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Psalm 83:1-18
O God, Do Not Keep Silence
A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.
1O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.
3They lay crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against your treasured ones.
4They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
5For they conspire with one accord;
against you they make a covenant—
6the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites,
7Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8Asshur also has joined them;
they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah
9Do to them as you did to Midian,
as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10who were destroyed at En-dor,
who became dung for the ground.
11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves
of the pastures of God.”
13O my God, make them like whirling dust,
like chaff before the wind.
14As fire consumes the forest,
as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15so may you pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your hurricane!
16Fill their faces with shame,
that they may seek your name, O Lord.
17Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
let them perish in disgrace,
18that they may know that you alone,
whose name is the Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth.
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Psalm 83:1-18
Psalm 83
A song. A psalm of Asaph.
1O God, do not remain silent;
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.
2See how your enemies growl,
how your foes rear their heads.
3With cunning they conspire against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.
4“Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,
so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”
5With one mind they plot together;
they form an alliance against you—
6the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
of Moab and the Hagrites,
7Byblos, Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia, with the people of Tyre.
8Even Assyria has joined them
to reinforce Lot’s descendants.
9Do to them as you did to Midian,
as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10who perished at Endor
and became like dung on the ground.
11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12who said, “Let us take possession
of the pasturelands of God.”
13Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
like chaff before the wind.
14As fire consumes the forest
or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15so pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your storm.
16Cover their faces with shame, Lord,
so that they will seek your name.
17May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;
may they perish in disgrace.
18Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord—
that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
Psalm 83 describes King David’s request that God deal with his enemies who are trying to destroy Israel. David prays that God give Israel’s enemies the same treatment He gave Midian and the princes Zebah and Zalmunna. David asked this so that they could know that the Lord is the Most High over all the earth. This request for God to execute judgment and justice so that people may learn who God is fits into a pattern seen throughout the Old Testament where God’s judgments are part of the education of Israel and the other nations. For example, during the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, God stated what he was going to do so that “the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand on Egypt and bring out the Sons of Israel from their midst." (Ex 7:5). It appears that this aspect of educating Israel and the other nations about the true God and His character is central to the judgments that occur throughout the Old Testament.
Laura Hamilton
Retired chemical engineer, Colorado, USA
