Add parallel Print Page Options

A Prayer for the Defeat of Israel's Enemies[a]

83 O God, do not keep silent;
    do not be still, do not be quiet!
Look! Your enemies are in revolt,
    and those who hate you are rebelling.
They are making secret plans against your people;
    they are plotting against those you protect.
“Come,” they say, “let us destroy their nation,
    so that Israel will be forgotten forever.”

They agree on their plan
    and form an alliance against you:
the people of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
    the people of Moab and the Hagrites;
the people of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek,
    and of Philistia and Tyre.
Assyria has also joined them
    as a strong ally of the Ammonites and Moabites, the descendants of Lot.

(A)Do to them what you did to the Midianites,
    and to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.
10 You defeated them at Endor,
    and their bodies rotted on the ground.
11 (B)Do to their leaders what you did to Oreb and Zeeb;
    defeat all their rulers as you did Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, “We will take for our own
    the land that belongs to God.”

13 Scatter them like dust, O God,
    like straw blown away by the wind.
14 As fire burns the forest,
    as flames set the hills on fire,
15 chase them away with your storm
    and terrify them with your fierce winds.
16 Cover their faces with shame, O Lord,
    and make them acknowledge your power.
17 May they be defeated and terrified forever;
    may they die in complete disgrace.
18 May they know that you alone are the Lord,
    supreme ruler over all the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 83:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by Asaph; a song.

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.