Psalm 83 (Tate & Brady)

1 Hold not thy peace, O Lord our God,

no longer silent be;

Nor with consenting quiet looks

our ruin calmly see.

2 For 1o! the tumults of thy foes

o'er all the land are spread;

And those who hate thy saints and thee

lift up their threat'ning head.

3 Against thy zealous people, Lord,

they craftily combine;

And to destroy thy chosen saints

have laid their close design.

4 "Come, let us cut them off, say they,

their nation quite deface;

"That no remembrance may remain

of Israel's hated race."

5 Thus they against thy people's peace

consult with one consent;

And diff'ring nations, jointly leagued,

their common malice vent.

6 The Ishmaelites, that dwell in tents,

with warlike Edom joined,

And Moab's sons our ruin vow,

with Hagar's race combined.

7 Proud Ammon's offspring, Gebal too,

with Amalek conspire;

The lords of Palestine, and all

the wealthy sons of Tyre.

8 All these the strong Assyrian king

their firm ally have got;

Who with a pow'rful army aids

th' incestuous race of Lot.

The Second Part.

9 But let such vengeance come to them,

as once to Midian came;

To Jabin and proud Sisera,

at Kishon's fatal stream.

10 When thy right hand their num'rous hosts

near Endor did confound;

And left their carcases for dung

to feed the hungry ground.

11 Let all their mighty men the fate

of Zeb and Oreb share;

As Zeba and Zalmuuna, so

let all their princes fare.

12 Who, with the same design inspired,

thus vainly boasting spake,

"In firm possession for ourselves '

let us God's houses take."

13 To ruin let them haste, like wheels

which downwards swiftly move;

Like chaff before the winds, let all

their scattered forces prove.

14,15

As flames consume dry wood or heath

that on parched mountains grows,

So let thy fierce pursuing wrath

with terror strike thy foes.

16,17

Lord, shroud their faces with disgrace,

that they may own thy Name;

Or them confound, whose hardened hearts

thy gentler means disclaim.

18 So shall the wond'ring world confess,

that thou, who claim'st alone

Jehovah's Name, o'er all the earth

hast raised thy lofty throne.