Psalms 83

Psalm 83

Prayer for Judgment on Israel’s Foes

1O God, do not keep silent;[#Ps 28.1; 109.1]

do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

2Even now your enemies are in tumult;[#Ps 2.1; 81.15]

those who hate you have raised their heads.

3They lay crafty plans against your people;[#Ps 27.5]

they consult together against those you protect.

4They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;[#Esth 3.6]

let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”

5They conspire with one accord;[#Ps 2.2]

against you they make a covenant—

6the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,[#2 Chr 20.1, 10, 11]

Moab and the Hagrites,

7Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,

Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

8Assyria also has joined them;

they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah

9Do to them as you did to Midian,[#Judg 4.22, 23]

as to Sisera and Jabin at the Wadi Kishon,

10who were destroyed at En-dor,

who became dung for the ground.

11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,[#Judg 8.12, 21]

all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

12who said, “Let us take the pastures of God[#2 Chr 20.11; Ps 132.13]

for our own possession.”

13O my God, make them like whirling dust,[#Ps 35.5; Isa 7.13; #83.13 Or a tumbleweed]

like chaff before the wind.

14As fire consumes the forest,[#Deut 32.22]

as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,

15so pursue them with your tempest[#Job 9.17]

and terrify them with your hurricane.

16Fill their faces with shame,

so that they may seek your name, O Lord .

17Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;[#Ps 70.2]

let them perish in disgrace.

18Let them know that you alone,[#Ex 6.3; Ps 59.13; 92.8]

whose name is the Lord ,

are the Most High over all the earth.

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ