Psalms83

English Standard Version

TranslationKJV WEB ASV ESV NIV NASB NKJV NLT

¹A . A of . O , do ; do hold your or be , O !

² , your make an ; those who you have their .

³They lay your ; they your .

⁴They , , let us wipe them as a ; let the of be !

⁵ they with ; you they a —

⁶the of and the , and the ,

⁷ and and , with the of ;

⁸ has ; they are the strong of the of .

⁹ to them as you did to , as to and at the ,

¹⁰who were at , who for the .

¹¹ their like and , their like and ,

¹² , Let us take for ourselves of the of .

¹³O my , them like , like the .

¹⁴As the , as the the ,

¹⁵ may you them with your and them with your !

¹⁶ their with , that they may your , O Lord.

¹⁷Let them be and ; let them in ,

¹⁸that they may you alone, whose is the Lord, are the the .

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 83.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The designs of the enemies of Israel. (1–8). Earnest prayer for their defeat. (9–18).

vv1-8

Sometimes God seems not to be concerned at the unjust treatment of his people. But then we may call upon him, as the psalmist here. All wicked people are God's enemies, especially wicked persecutors. The Lord's people are his hidden one; the world knows them not. He takes them under his special protection. Do the enemies of the church act with one consent to destroy it, and shall not the friends of the church be united? Wicked men wish that there might be no religion among mankind. They would gladly see all its restraints shaken off, and all that preach, profess, or practise it, cut off. This they would bring to pass if it were in their power. The enemies of God's church have always been many: this magnifies the power of the Lord in preserving to himself a church in the world.

vv9-18

All who oppose the kingdom of Christ may here read their doom. God is the same still that ever he was; the same to his people, and the same against his and their enemies. God would make their enemies like a wheel; unsettled in all their counsels and resolves. Not only let them be driven away as stubble, but burnt as stubble. And this will be the end of wicked men. Let them be made to fear thy name, and perhaps that will bring them to seek thy name. We should desire no confusion to our enemies and persecutors but what may forward their conversion. The stormy tempest of Divine vengeance will overtake them, unless they repent and seek the pardoning mercy of their offended Lord. God's triumphs over his enemies, clearly prove that he is, according to his name JEHOVAH, an almighty Being, who has all power and perfection in himself. May we fear his wrath, and yield ourselves to be his willing servants. And let us seek deliverance by the destruction of our fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

Key Words

SongH7892Hebrew

שִׁיר: a song; abstractly, singing

PsalmH4210Hebrew

מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes

AsaphH623Hebrew

אָסָף: Asaph, the name of three Israelites, and of the family of the first

GodH430Hebrew

אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

notH408Hebrew

אַל: not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

keep silenceH1824Hebrew

דְּמִי: quiet

peaceH2790Hebrew

חָרַשׁ: to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness)

stillH8252Hebrew

שָׁקַט: to repose (usually figurative)

GodH410Hebrew

אֵל: strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)

ForH3588Hebrew

כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed