O GOD, DO NOT STAND ALOOF
Key verse: 18
NIV
Psalm 83[a]
A song. A psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, do not remain silent;(A)
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.
2 See how your enemies growl,(B)
how your foes rear their heads.(C)
3 With cunning they conspire(D) against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.(E)
4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy(F) them as a nation,(G)
so that Israel’s name is remembered(H) no more.”
5 With one mind they plot together;(I)
they form an alliance against you—
6 the tents of Edom(J) and the Ishmaelites,
of Moab(K) and the Hagrites,(L)
7 Byblos,(M) Ammon(N) and Amalek,(O)
Philistia,(P) with the people of Tyre.(Q)
8 Even Assyria(R) has joined them
to reinforce Lot’s descendants.[b](S)
9 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.”
Footnotes
- Psalm 83:1 In Hebrew texts 83:1-18 is numbered 83:2-19.
- Psalm 83:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Cross references
- Psalm 83:1 : Ps 28:1; 35:22; Isa 42:14; 57:11; 62:1; 64:12
- Psalm 83:2 : Ps 2:1; Isa 17:12
- Psalm 83:2 : Jdg 8:28
- Psalm 83:3 : S Ex 1:10; S Ps 31:13
- Psalm 83:3 : Ps 17:14
- Psalm 83:4 : S Est 3:6
- Psalm 83:4 : Jer 33:24
- Psalm 83:4 : Jer 11:19
- Psalm 83:5 : Ps 2:2
- Psalm 83:6 : Ps 137:7; Isa 34:5; Jer 49:7; Am 1:11
- Psalm 83:6 : 2Ch 20:1
- Psalm 83:6 : S Ge 25:16
- Psalm 83:7 : S Jos 13:5
- Psalm 83:7 : Ge 19:38
- Psalm 83:7 : S Ge 14:7; S Ex 17:14
- Psalm 83:7 : Ex 15:14
- Psalm 83:7 : Isa 23:3; Eze 27:3
- Psalm 83:8 : S Ge 10:11
- Psalm 83:8 : S Dt 2:9
- Psalm 83:9 : S Ge 25:2; Jdg 7:1-23
- Psalm 83:9 : S Jdg 4:2
- Psalm 83:9 : S Jos 11:1
- Psalm 83:9 : S Jdg 4:23-24
- Psalm 83:10 : S 1Sa 28:7
- Psalm 83:10 : S 2Ki 9:37; Isa 5:25; Jer 8:2; 9:22; 16:4; 25:33; Zep 1:17
- Psalm 83:11 : Jdg 7:25
- Psalm 83:11 : S Jdg 8:5
- Psalm 83:12 : 2Ch 20:11; Eze 35:10
- Psalm 83:13 : S Job 13:25
- Psalm 83:14 : Dt 32:22; Isa 9:18
- Psalm 83:15 : S Ps 50:3
- Psalm 83:15 : S Job 9:17
- Psalm 83:16 : S Ps 34:5; 109:29; 132:18
- Psalm 83:17 : S 2Ki 19:26
- Psalm 83:17 : S Ps 35:4
- Psalm 83:18 : S Ps 68:4
- Psalm 83:18 : Ps 7:8; 18:13
- Psalm 83:18 : S Job 34:29
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
O God, Do Not Keep Silence
A Song. A Psalm of (A)Asaph.83 O God, do not keep silence;
(B)do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2 For behold, your enemies (C)make an uproar;
those who hate you have (D)raised their heads.
3 They lay (E)crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against your (F)treasured ones.
4 They say, “Come, (G)let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
5 For they conspire with one accord;
against you they make a covenant—
6 the tents of (H)Edom and (I)the Ishmaelites,
(J)Moab and (K)the Hagrites,
7 (L)Gebal and (M)Ammon and (N)Amalek,
(O)Philistia with the inhabitants of (P)Tyre;
8 (Q)Asshur also has joined them;
they are the strong arm of (R)the children of Lot. Selah
9 Do to them as you did to (S)Midian,
as to (T)Sisera and Jabin at (U)the river Kishon,
10 who were destroyed at (V)En-dor,
who became (W)dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like (X)Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like (Y)Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, (Z)“Let us take possession for ourselves
of the pastures of God.”
13 O my God, make them like (AA)whirling dust,[a]
like (AB)chaff before the wind.
14 As (AC)fire consumes the forest,
as the flame (AD)sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so may you pursue them (AE)with your tempest
and terrify them with your hurricane!
16 (AF)Fill their faces with shame,
that they may seek your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be (AG)put to shame and dismayed forever;
let them perish in disgrace,
18 that they may (AH)know that you alone,
(AI)whose name is the Lord,
are (AJ)the Most High over all the earth.
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Footnotes
- Psalm 83:13 Or like a tumbleweed
Cross references
- Psalm 83:1 : See Ps. 50, title
- Psalm 83:1 : See Ps. 28:1
- Psalm 83:2 : [Ps. 2:1]
- Psalm 83:2 : Judg. 8:28
- Psalm 83:3 : [Neh. 4:8]
- Psalm 83:3 : See Ps. 27:5; 31:20
- Psalm 83:4 : Jer. 48:2; [Ps. 74:8; Esth. 3:6]
- Psalm 83:6 : Ps. 137:7; See 2 Chr. 20:10
- Psalm 83:6 : See Gen. 25:12-16
- Psalm 83:6 : 2 Chr. 20:10
- Psalm 83:6 : 1 Chr. 5:10
- Psalm 83:7 : Josh. 13:5
- Psalm 83:7 : [See ver. 6 above]; 2 Chr. 20:10
- Psalm 83:7 : 1 Sam. 15:2
- Psalm 83:7 : 1 Sam. 4:1; [Amos 1:6]
- Psalm 83:7 : Ezek. 27:3; [Amos 1:9]
- Psalm 83:8 : 2 Kgs. 15:19
- Psalm 83:8 : Deut. 2:9, 19
- Psalm 83:9 : Num. 31:7; See Isa. 9:4
- Psalm 83:9 : Judg. 4:15, 24
- Psalm 83:9 : Judg. 4:7; 5:21
- Psalm 83:10 : Josh. 17:11; 1 Sam. 28:7
- Psalm 83:10 : See Job 20:7
- Psalm 83:11 : Judg. 7:25; 8:3
- Psalm 83:11 : See Judg. 8:5-21
- Psalm 83:12 : [2 Chr. 20:11]
- Psalm 83:13 : Isa. 17:13
- Psalm 83:13 : Job 13:25; 21:18; [Ps. 1:4]
- Psalm 83:14 : [Isa. 9:18]; See Isa. 10:16-19
- Psalm 83:14 : Deut. 32:22
- Psalm 83:15 : Job 9:17
- Psalm 83:16 : [Ps. 35:4, 26; Job 10:15]
- Psalm 83:17 : Ps. 35:4
- Psalm 83:18 : Ps. 59:13
- Psalm 83:18 : Ex. 6:3
- Psalm 83:18 : Ps. 9:2; 18:13; 97:9
83 O God, do not keep silence;
(B)do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2 For behold, your enemies (C)make an uproar;
those who hate you have (D)raised their heads.
3 They lay (E)crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against your (F)treasured ones.
4 They say, “Come, (G)let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
5 For they conspire with one accord;
against you they make a covenant—
6 the tents of (H)Edom and (I)the Ishmaelites,
(J)Moab and (K)the Hagrites,
7 (L)Gebal and (M)Ammon and (N)Amalek,
(O)Philistia with the inhabitants of (P)Tyre;
8 (Q)Asshur also has joined them;
they are the strong arm of (R)the children of Lot. Selah
9 Do to them as you did to (S)Midian,
as to (T)Sisera and Jabin at (U)the river Kishon,
10 who were destroyed at (V)En-dor,
who became (W)dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like (X)Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like (Y)Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, (Z)“Let us take possession for ourselves
of the pastures of God.”
13 O my God, make them like (AA)whirling dust,[a]
like (AB)chaff before the wind.
14 As (AC)fire consumes the forest,
as the flame (AD)sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so may you pursue them (AE)with your tempest
and terrify them with your hurricane!
16 (AF)Fill their faces with shame,
that they may seek your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be (AG)put to shame and dismayed forever;
let them perish in disgrace,
18 that they may (AH)know that you alone,
(AI)whose name is the Lord,
are (AJ)the Most High over all the earth.
Footnotes
- Psalm 83:13 Or like a tumbleweed
Cross references
- Psalm 83:1 : See Ps. 50, title
- Psalm 83:1 : See Ps. 28:1
- Psalm 83:2 : [Ps. 2:1]
- Psalm 83:2 : Judg. 8:28
- Psalm 83:3 : [Neh. 4:8]
- Psalm 83:3 : See Ps. 27:5; 31:20
- Psalm 83:4 : Jer. 48:2; [Ps. 74:8; Esth. 3:6]
- Psalm 83:6 : Ps. 137:7; See 2 Chr. 20:10
- Psalm 83:6 : See Gen. 25:12-16
- Psalm 83:6 : 2 Chr. 20:10
- Psalm 83:6 : 1 Chr. 5:10
- Psalm 83:7 : Josh. 13:5
- Psalm 83:7 : [See ver. 6 above]; 2 Chr. 20:10
- Psalm 83:7 : 1 Sam. 15:2
- Psalm 83:7 : 1 Sam. 4:1; [Amos 1:6]
- Psalm 83:7 : Ezek. 27:3; [Amos 1:9]
- Psalm 83:8 : 2 Kgs. 15:19
- Psalm 83:8 : Deut. 2:9, 19
- Psalm 83:9 : Num. 31:7; See Isa. 9:4
- Psalm 83:9 : Judg. 4:15, 24
- Psalm 83:9 : Judg. 4:7; 5:21
- Psalm 83:10 : Josh. 17:11; 1 Sam. 28:7
- Psalm 83:10 : See Job 20:7
- Psalm 83:11 : Judg. 7:25; 8:3
- Psalm 83:11 : See Judg. 8:5-21
- Psalm 83:12 : [2 Chr. 20:11]
- Psalm 83:13 : Isa. 17:13
- Psalm 83:13 : Job 13:25; 21:18; [Ps. 1:4]
- Psalm 83:14 : [Isa. 9:18]; See Isa. 10:16-19
- Psalm 83:14 : Deut. 32:22
- Psalm 83:15 : Job 9:17
- Psalm 83:16 : [Ps. 35:4, 26; Job 10:15]
- Psalm 83:17 : Ps. 35:4
- Psalm 83:18 : Ps. 59:13
- Psalm 83:18 : Ex. 6:3
- Psalm 83:18 : Ps. 9:2; 18:13; 97:9
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
This psalm is a prayer of urgent pleading with God to take action on behalf of Israel when they are threatened by an alliance of strong enemies (1-3). These enemies’ desire is for Israel to cease to exist (4). It’s also appropriate for us to pray for the Church of Jesus when it is threatened. The psalmist specifically names the nations allied against them (5-8) and recalls when God gave his people victory over such enemies in the past (9-12). The struggles we face today are part of the same, long-term spiritual battle. We can also be encouraged by remembering how God has acted for his people throughout history.
The psalmist makes clear his desire for God to defeat these enemies completely (13-15, 17). However, he concludes by asking that the enemies’ shame may lead them to seek God’s name (16), and—as a result of this victory—God’s name may be known throughout the earth (18). When we pray fervently in our distress, our desire can be purified until what we really want is for God to be known as the Most High. A true spiritual victory is for those who were once considered our enemies to come to God and be saved.
Prayer: Father, thank you for all the ways you have answered your people’s prayer and saved them from strong enemies. Please enlist me as a prayer warrior today, so all nations may know you.
One Word: That all people may seek God’s name.
