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Psalm 83

Prayer for Judgment on Israel’s Foes

A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.

O God, do not keep silent;
    do not hold your peace or be still, O God!(A)
Even now your enemies are in tumult;
    those who hate you have raised their heads.(B)
They lay crafty plans against your people;
    they consult together against those you protect.(C)
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
    let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”(D)
They conspire with one accord;
    against you they make a covenant—(E)
the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
    Moab and the Hagrites,(F)
Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
    Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Assyria also has joined them;
    they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah

Do to them as you did to Midian,
    as to Sisera and Jabin at the Wadi Kishon,(G)
10 who were destroyed at En-dor,
    who became dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,(H)
12 who said, “Let us take the pastures of God
    for our own possession.”(I)

13 O my God, make them like whirling dust,[a]
    like chaff before the wind.(J)
14 As fire consumes the forest,
    as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,(K)
15 so pursue them with your tempest
    and terrify them with your hurricane.(L)
16 Fill their faces with shame,
    so that they may seek your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
    let them perish in disgrace.(M)
18 Let them know that you alone,
    whose name is the Lord,
    are the Most High over all the earth.(N)

Psalm 84

The Joy of Worship in the Temple

To the leader: according to The Gittith. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    O Lord of hosts!(O)
My soul longs, indeed it faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
    to the living God.(P)

Even the sparrow finds a home
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
    my King and my God.(Q)
Happy are those who live in your house,
    ever singing your praise. Selah(R)

Happy are those whose strength is in you,
    in whose heart are the highways to Zion.[b](S)
As they go through the valley of Baca,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the early rain also covers it with pools.(T)
They go from strength to strength;
    the God of gods will be seen in Zion.(U)

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
    give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
Behold our shield, O God;
    look on the face of your anointed.(V)

10 For a day in your courts is better
    than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than live in the tents of wickedness.(W)
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    he bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does the Lord withhold
    from those who walk uprightly.(X)
12 O Lord of hosts,
    happy is everyone who trusts in you.(Y)

Psalm 85

Prayer for the Restoration of God’s Favor

To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.

Lord, you were favorable to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.(Z)
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
    you pardoned all their sin. Selah(AA)
You withdrew all your wrath;
    you turned from your hot anger.

Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
    and put away your indignation toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?
    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?(AB)
Will you not revive us again,
    so that your people may rejoice in you?(AC)
Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
    for he will speak peace to his people,
    to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.[c](AD)
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
    that his glory may dwell in our land.(AE)

10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
    righteousness and peace will kiss each other.(AF)
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
    and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12 The Lord will give what is good,
    and our land will yield its increase.(AG)
13 Righteousness will go before him
    and will make a path for his steps.(AH)

Psalm 86

Supplication for Help against Enemies

A Prayer of David.

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.(AI)
Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God;(AJ) be gracious to me, O Lord,
    for to you do I cry all day long.(AK)
Gladden the soul of your servant,
    for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.(AL)
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
    abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.(AM)
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
    listen to my cry of supplication.(AN)
In the day of my trouble I call on you,
    for you will answer me.(AO)

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
    nor are there any works like yours.(AP)
All the nations you have made shall come
    and bow down before you, O Lord,
    and shall glorify your name.(AQ)
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
    you alone are God.(AR)
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
    that I may walk in your truth;
    give me an undivided heart to revere your name.(AS)
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
    and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
    you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.(AT)

14 O God, the insolent rise up against me;
    a band of ruffians seeks my life,
    and they do not set you before them.(AU)
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.(AV)
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
    give your strength to your servant;
    save the child of your maidservant.(AW)
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
    so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,
    because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.(AX)

Psalm 87

The Joy of Living in Zion

Of the Korahites. A Psalm. A Song.

On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
    the Lord loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the dwellings of Jacob.(AY)
Glorious things are spoken of you,
    O city of God. Selah(AZ)

Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
    Philistia, too, and Tyre, with Cush—
    “This one was born there,” they say.

And of Zion it shall be said,
    “This one and that one were born in it,”
    for the Most High himself will establish it.(BA)
The Lord records, as he registers the peoples,
    “This one was born there.” Selah(BB)

Singers and dancers alike say,
    “All my springs are in you.”(BC)

Footnotes

  1. 83.13 Or a tumbleweed
  2. 84.5 Heb lacks to Zion
  3. 85.8 Gk: Heb but let them not turn back to folly

Psalm 83[a]

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

O God, do not remain silent;(A)
    do not turn a deaf ear,
    do not stand aloof, O God.
See how your enemies growl,(B)
    how your foes rear their heads.(C)
With cunning they conspire(D) against your people;
    they plot against those you cherish.(E)
“Come,” they say, “let us destroy(F) them as a nation,(G)
    so that Israel’s name is remembered(H) no more.”

With one mind they plot together;(I)
    they form an alliance against you—
the tents of Edom(J) and the Ishmaelites,
    of Moab(K) and the Hagrites,(L)
Byblos,(M) Ammon(N) and Amalek,(O)
    Philistia,(P) with the people of Tyre.(Q)
Even Assyria(R) has joined them
    to reinforce Lot’s descendants.[b](S)

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.”

13 Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
    like chaff(AC) before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest
    or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,(AD)
15 so pursue them with your tempest(AE)
    and terrify them with your storm.(AF)
16 Cover their faces with shame,(AG) Lord,
    so that they will seek your name.

17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;(AH)
    may they perish in disgrace.(AI)
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord(AJ)
    that you alone are the Most High(AK) over all the earth.(AL)

Psalm 84[c]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[d] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling place,(AM)
    Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns,(AN) even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.(AO)
Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,(AP)
    Lord Almighty,(AQ) my King(AR) and my God.(AS)
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.[e]

Blessed are those whose strength(AT) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(AU)
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;(AV)
    the autumn(AW) rains also cover it with pools.[f]
They go from strength to strength,(AX)
    till each appears(AY) before God in Zion.(AZ)

Hear my prayer,(BA) Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield,[g](BB) O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.(BC)

10 Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(BD) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(BE) and shield;(BF)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(BG)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed(BH) is the one who trusts in you.

Psalm 85[h]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
    you restored the fortunes(BI) of Jacob.
You forgave(BJ) the iniquity(BK) of your people
    and covered all their sins.[i]
You set aside all your wrath(BL)
    and turned from your fierce anger.(BM)

Restore(BN) us again, God our Savior,(BO)
    and put away your displeasure toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?(BP)
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive(BQ) us again,
    that your people may rejoice(BR) in you?
Show us your unfailing love,(BS) Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.(BT)

I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace(BU) to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.(BV)
Surely his salvation(BW) is near those who fear him,
    that his glory(BX) may dwell in our land.

10 Love and faithfulness(BY) meet together;
    righteousness(BZ) and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness(CA) looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,(CB)
    and our land will yield(CC) its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

Hear me, Lord, and answer(CD) me,
    for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.(CE)
You are my God; have mercy(CF) on me, Lord,
    for I call(CG) to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
    for I put my trust(CH) in you.

You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
    abounding in love(CI) to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
    listen to my cry(CJ) for mercy.
When I am in distress,(CK) I call(CL) to you,
    because you answer(CM) me.

Among the gods(CN) there is none like you,(CO) Lord;
    no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
    will come(CP) and worship(CQ) before you, Lord;
    they will bring glory(CR) to your name.
10 For you are great(CS) and do marvelous deeds;(CT)
    you alone(CU) are God.

11 Teach me your way,(CV) Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;(CW)
give me an undivided(CX) heart,
    that I may fear(CY) your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;(CZ)
    I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me(DA) from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.(DB)

14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
    ruthless people are trying to kill me—
    they have no regard for you.(DC)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious(DD) God,
    slow to anger,(DE) abounding(DF) in love and faithfulness.(DG)
16 Turn to me(DH) and have mercy(DI) on me;
    show your strength(DJ) in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
    just as my mother did.(DK)
17 Give me a sign(DL) of your goodness,
    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Psalm 87

Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.

He has founded his city on the holy mountain.(DM)
The Lord loves the gates of Zion(DN)
    more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

Glorious things are said of you,
    city of God:[j](DO)
“I will record Rahab[k](DP) and Babylon
    among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia(DQ) too, and Tyre(DR), along with Cush[l]
    and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”[m](DS)
Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her,
    and the Most High himself will establish her.”
The Lord will write in the register(DT) of the peoples:
    “This one was born in Zion.”

As they make music(DU) they will sing,
    “All my fountains(DV) are in you.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 83:1 In Hebrew texts 83:1-18 is numbered 83:2-19.
  2. Psalm 83:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
  4. Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  5. Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
  6. Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
  7. Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
  8. Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
  9. Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  10. Psalm 87:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
  11. Psalm 87:4 A poetic name for Egypt
  12. Psalm 87:4 That is, the upper Nile region
  13. Psalm 87:4 Or “I will record concerning those who acknowledge me: / ‘This one was born in Zion.’ / Hear this, Rahab and Babylon, / and you too, Philistia, Tyre and Cush.”