God Implored to Confound His Enemies.

1
Do not keep silent, O God;

Do not hold Your peace or be still, O God.
2

For behold, Your enemies are in tumult,
And those who hate You have raised their heads [in hatred of You].(A)
3

They concoct crafty schemes against Your people,
And conspire together against Your hidden and precious ones.
4

They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation;
Let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
5

For they have conspired together with one mind;
Against You they make a covenant—
6

The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Of Moab and the Hagrites,
7

Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
8

Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot [the Ammonites and the Moabites] and have been an arm [of strength] to them. Selah.
9

Deal with them as [You did] with Midian,
As with Sisera and Jabin at the brook of Kishon,(B)
10

Who were destroyed at En-dor,
Who became like dung for the earth.
11

Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb
And all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,(C)
12

Who said, “Let us possess for ourselves
The pastures of God.”
13

O my God, make them like (a)whirling dust,
Like chaff before the wind [worthless and without substance].
14

Like fire consumes the forest,
And like the flame sets the mountains on fire,
15

So pursue them with Your tempest
And terrify them with [the violence of] Your storm.
16

Fill their faces with shame and disgrace,
That they may [persistently] seek Your name, O Lord.
17

Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever;
Yes, let them be humiliated and perish,
18

That they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord,
Are the Most High over all the earth.

Footnotes:

a. Psalm 83:13: Or tumbleweed.