Psalm 83 - Asaph's Prayer Against a Confederacy of Enemies
Asaph names ten nations plotting against Israel and calls on God to act.
Psalm 83 opens with an urgent cry, 'Keep not thou silence, O God,' as Asaph lists ten hostile nations, from Edom to Assyria, who have banded together to wipe out Israel's name. It reads as one continuous prayer within the wider Psalms overview, giving voice to a nation under real, coordinated threat.
A Song, a Psalm of Asaph.
O G-d, keep not Thou silence; hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O G-d.
For, lo, Thine enemies are in an uproar; and they that hate Thee have lifted up the head.
They hold crafty converse against Thy people, and take counsel against Thy treasured 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; against Thee do they make a covenant;
The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites;
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Assyria also is joined with them; they have been an arm to the children of Lot. Selah
Do Thou unto them as unto Midian; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook Kishon;
Who were destroyed at En-dor; they became as dung for the earth.
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and like Zebah and Zalmunna all their princes;
Who said: 'Let us take to ourselves in possession the habitations of G-d.'
O my G-d, make them like the whirling dust; as stubble before the wind.
As the fire that burneth the forest, and as the flame that setteth the mountains ablaze;
So pursue them with Thy tempest, and affright them with Thy storm.
Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek Thy name, O HaShem.
Let them be ashamed and affrighted for ever; yea, let them be abashed and perish;
That they may know that it is Thou alone whose name is HaShem, the Most High over all the earth.