Psalm 83 is a cry for help when many nations conspire against God’s people: “O God, who shall be like to thee? hold not thy peace, neither be thou still, O God.” It names ten enemy peoples and asks God to scatter them like dust before the wind, so that all may know “that the Lord is thy name: thou alone art the most High over all the earth.” In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 82. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 83 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
A canticle of a psalm for Asaph.
O God, who shall be like to thee? hold not thy peace, neither be thou still, O God.
For lo, thy enemies have made a noise: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
They have taken a malicious counsel against thy people, and have consulted against thy saints.
They have said: Come and let us destroy them, so that they be not a nation: and let the name of Israel be remembered no more.
For they have contrived with one consent: they have made a covenant together against thee,
The tabernacles of the Edomites, and the Ismahelites: Moab, and the Agarens,
Gebal, and Ammon and Amalec: the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre.
Yea, and the Assyrian also is joined with them: they are come to the aid of the sons of Lot.
Do to them as thou didst to Madian and to Sisara: as to Jabin at the brook of Cisson.
Who perished at Endor: and became as dung for the earth.
Make their princes like Oreb, and Zeb, and Zebee, and Salmana. All their princes,
Who have said: Let us possess the sanctuary of God for an inheritance.
O my God, make them like a wheel; and as stubble before the wind.
As fire which burneth the wood: and as a flame burning mountains:
So shalt thou pursue them with thy tempest: and shalt trouble them in thy wrath.
Fill their faces with shame; and they shall seek thy name, O Lord.
Let them be ashamed and troubled for ever and ever: and let them be confounded and perish.
And let them know that the Lord is thy name: thou alone art the most High over all the earth.
Psalm 83 or Psalm 82?
The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 82 is Psalm 83 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Deus, quis similis erit tibi. See how many psalms are there?
A psalm left out of the Hours
Psalm 83 is one of three psalms, with Psalms 58 and 109, that the Church omits from the four-week Liturgy of the Hours because of their curses against enemies. It remains part of inspired Scripture. Its purpose is not hatred but the glory of God: the psalm asks that the enemies be filled with shame so that “they shall seek thy name, O Lord,” and come to know him. Christians pray it as a plea for the protection of God’s people and for the conversion of those who oppose him, remembering Christ’s command to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
What the psalm means
- God’s silence: “hold not thy peace, neither be thou still, O God.”
- A conspiracy of nations: many peoples unite against Israel.
- God’s past victories: as he defeated Sisara and Madian.
- Scattered like chaff: “Make them like a wheel; and as stubble before the wind.”
- The goal is knowledge of God: “they shall seek thy name, O Lord.”
How the Church uses Psalm 83
- Omitted from the Liturgy of the Hours, with Psalms 58 and 109, because of its curses.
- For persecuted Christians, as a prayer for protection and for the conversion of persecutors.
A prayer with Psalm 83
Written for this page:
O God, do not keep silent while your people are threatened.
Protect your Church from all who conspire against her.
Scatter the plans of evil like chaff before the wind,
and let all people come to seek your name, for you alone are the Most High. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Psalm 83 not in the Liturgy of the Hours?
Because of its curses against enemies. The Church omits Psalms 58, 83 and 109 from the four-week psalter.
What is Psalm 83 about?
A plea for God’s help when many nations conspire against his people, so that all may know he is the Most High.
More psalms and prayers
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 82 (83); Matthew 5:44, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.