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Psalm 83

A song of Asaph.

O True God, do not be quiet any longer.
    Do not stay silent or be still, O God.
Look now, Your enemies are causing a commotion;
    those who hate You are rising up!
They are conniving against Your people,
    conspiring against those You cherish.
They say, “Join us. Let’s wipe the entire nation off the face of the earth
    so no one will remember Israel’s name.”
They are all in it together, thinking as one,
    and making a pact against You:
The people of Edom and Ishmael;
    the Moabites and the Hagrites;
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
    Philistia with the residents of Tyre.
And the powerful Assyrians have joined the alliance
    to add their strength and support the descendants of Lot: Moab and Ammon.

[pause][a]

Do to these nations what You did to Midian,
    to Sisera and Jabin at the raging waters of Kishon.
10 They were destroyed at En-dor;
    they became like dung, fertilizer for the ground.
11 Make their rulers like Oreb and Zeeb,
    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who schemed, “We should own the meadows of the True God,
    let’s take them!”

13 O my God, blow them away like a tumbleweed,
    scatter them like dust in a whirlwind.
14 As a wildfire charges through the forest
    or a flame sprints up the mountainside,
15 Send Your raging winds to chase them, hunt them down,
    and terrify them with Your storm.
16 Redden their faces in shame
    so that they will turn and seek Your holy name, Eternal One.
17 May they face disappointment and anxiety forever;
    may they be ashamed and die.
18 May they know that You and You alone,
    whose name is the Eternal,
    are the Most High, the Supreme Ruler over all the earth.

Footnotes

  1. 83:8 Literally, selah, likely a musical direction from a Hebrew root meaning “to lift up”

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.