Psalms 83

1 O God [the supreme Creator, Elohim], be not silent [keep not thou silence, do not stay quiet]; be not speechless [hold not thy peace, nor be quiet]; be not still [cease not, and do not remain unmoved], O God. word study 2 See how Your enemies [those who hate and oppose You] rage [make a tumult, are out of control], how Your foes [those who defy and rebel against You] have reared [lifted up, exalted] their heads [in pride and arrogance]. word study 3 With [crafty] cunning they scheme [take counsel, make plans] against Your people [those You cherish, Your hidden ones] and conspire [consult together, plot] against those You [protect, treasure, keep in a secret place] cherish, word study 4 saying, “Come [let us join forces], let us erase [cut off, destroy] them as a nation [people, community]; may the name [reputation, remembrance] of Israel [God’s chosen people] be remembered [kept in mind, recalled] no more [never again, completely forgotten].” word study 5 For with one mind [in complete unity, with a single consent] they plot together [conspire, have consulted in heart], they form an alliance [a covenant, a league] against You [against Your people, Israel]— word study 6 the tents [tabernacles, dwelling places] of Edom [a region, the people of Edom] and the Ishmaelites [descendants of Ishmael, a people-group], of Moab [a nation, the Moabites] and the Hagrites [Hagarites, Agarims, a tribal group], word study 7 of Gebal [a region, a city], Ammon [a people-group, descendants of Lot], and Amalek [a nomadic people, aggressive and hostile], of Philistia [a coastal region, inhabited by non-Israelites] with the people [inhabitants, residents] of Tyre [a major city, a port]. word study 8 Even Assyria [Assur, a powerful nation] has joined [become allied, united with] them, lending [providing, giving] strength [support, aid] to the sons [descendants, children] of Lot [a nephew of Abraham]. Selah [pause, reflect, consider] word study 9 Do to them as You did to Midian [the Midianites], as to Sisera [at the brook] and Jabin at the River [stream, brook] Kishon [Kison], word study 10 who perished [were destroyed, came to destruction] at Endor [a place of defeat, En-dor] and became like [as, similar to] dung [manure, waste] on the ground [the earth, the land]. word study 11 Make their nobles [utterly destroyed] like Oreb and Zeeb [similar to Zeeb, completely defeated], and all their princes [rulers, leaders] like Zebah [as Zebah, a Midianite king] and Zalmunna [similar to Zalmunna, a prince of Midian], word study 12 who said, “Let us possess [take to ourselves, occupy] for ourselves the pastures [houses, habitations, land] of God [the Almighty, the Creator].” word study 13 Make them like [whirling, rolling] tumbleweed, O my [supreme] God [Elohim], like [stubble, dry stems] chaff [whirling dust] before the [blowing, sweeping] wind. word study 14 As fire [burning intensely, consuming completely] consumes a forest [a large area of land covered with trees and undergrowth], as a flame [a burning gas, a fiery blaze] sets the mountains [high lands, rugged terrain] ablaze [on fire, burning fiercely], word study 15 so pursue them with Your [strong wind] tempest, and terrify them with Your [big storms, hurricane] storm. word study 16 Cover [fill, overwhelm] their faces with shame [confusion, dismay], that they may seek [give honor to, admit the power of] Your name [Your character, Your reputation], O LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God]. word study 17 May they be ever [completely, utterly] ashamed [confounded, troubled] and [deeply] terrified [dismayed, put to shame]; may they perish [be lost, come to destruction] in [a state of] disgrace [dishonor, shame]. word study 18 May they know [be fully aware, understand] that You alone [the only one, unique], whose name [identity, character] is the LORD [Yehovah], are [exist as, remain] Most High [exalted, supreme] over [ruling, governing] all [every part, the entirety] the earth [the world, creation]. word study