Psalms 83
[1]The Psalmist complaineth to God of a powerful confederacy among the enemies of Israel: [9]he prayeth against them.
A Song or Psalm of Asaph.
1. 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.
A Song or Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. 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. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
NKJV
1.
Do not keep silent, O God!
Do not hold Your peace,
And do not be still, O God!
2.
For behold, Your enemies make a tumult;
And those who hate You have lifted up their head.
3.
They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4.
They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
5.
For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
6.
The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7.
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8.
Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot. Selah
9.
Deal with them as with Midian,
As with Sisera,
As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon,
10.
Who perished at En Dor,
Who became as refuse on the earth.
11.
Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb,
Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12.
Who said, “Let us take for ourselves
The pastures of God for a possession.”
13.
O my God, make them like the whirling dust,
Like the chaff before the wind!
14.
As the fire burns the woods,
And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,
15.
So pursue them with Your tempest,
And frighten them with Your storm.
16.
Fill their faces with shame,
That they may seek Your name, O Lord.
17.
Let them be confounded 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.
Do not keep silent, O God!
Do not hold Your peace,
And do not be still, O God!
For behold, Your enemies make a tumult;
And those who hate You have lifted up their head.
They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot. Selah
Deal with them as with Midian,
As with Sisera,
As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon,
Who perished at En Dor,
Who became as refuse on the earth.
Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb,
Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
Who said, “Let us take for ourselves
The pastures of God for a possession.”
O my God, make them like the whirling dust,
Like the chaff before the wind!
As the fire burns the woods,
And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,
So pursue them with Your tempest,
And frighten them with Your storm.
Fill their faces with shame,
That they may seek Your name, O Lord.
Let them be confounded and dismayed forever;
Yes, let them be put to shame and perish,
That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord,
Are the Most High over all the earth.
Metrical version
Psalm 83
C.M. Wigtown
Keep not, O God, we thee entreat, O keep not silence now: Do thou not hold thy peace, O God, and still no more be thou. For, lo, thine enemies a noise tumultuously have made; And they that haters are of thee have lifted up the head. Against thy chosen people they do crafty counsel take: And they against thy hidden ones do consultations make. Come, let us cut them off, said they, from being a nation, That of the name of Isr'el may no more be mention. For with joint heart they plot, in league against thee they combine. The tents of Edom, Ishm'elites, Moab's and Hagar's line; Gebal, and Ammon, Amalek, Philistines, those of Tyre; And Assur joined with them, to help Lot's children they conspire. Do to them as to Midian, Jabin at Kison strand; And Sis'ra, which at En-dor fell, as dung to fat the land. Like Oreb and like Zeeb make their noble men to fall; Like Zeba and Zalmunna like, make thou their princes all; Who said, For our possession let us God's houses take. My God, them like a wheel, as chaff before the wind, them make. As fire consumes the wood, as flame doth mountains set on fire, Chase and affright them with the storm and tempest of thine ire. Their faces fill with shame, O LORD, that they may seek thy name. Let them confounded be, and vexed, and perish in their shame: That men may know that thou, to whom alone doth appertain The name JEHOVAH, dost most high o'er all the earth remain.
This psalm relates to some combinations of the Heathens around, against the Hebrews, either in the days of David, 2 Sam. 8 or 10, or of Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. 20. It contains, (1.) A solemn remonstrance to God concerning their malicious designs against his church and honour, ver. 1-8. (2.) Fervent supplications to God that he would defeat these attempts; protect and preserve his church; humble his enemies, and glorify himself in the world, ver. 9-18.
While I sing, let me be affected with the inward combinations of my own lusts with Satan and the world, and with the joint endeavours of open enemies and naughty professors against the church and interests of Christ; and commit the cause to God who judgeth righteously.