Psalm 83:1

O God, Do Not Keep Silence

1 O God, do not keep silence; ¹do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

Psalm 83:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 83:1

Keep not thou silence, O God
Which he is thought and said to do, when he does not answer the prayers of his people, nor plead their cause, nor rebuke their enemies; when he does not speak a good word to them, or one for them, or one against those that hate and persecute them;

hold not thy peace;
or "be not deaf" ^F2 to the cries and tears of his people, and to the reproaches, menaces, and blasphemies of wicked men:

and be not still, O God;
or "quiet" ^F3, at rest and ease, inactive and unconcerned, as if he cared not how things went; the reason follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (vrxt-la) "ne obsurdescas", Vatablus; "ne surdum agas", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "ne quasi surdus et mutus sis", Michaelis.
F3 (jqvt la) "ne quiescas", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus; "neque quietus sis", Michaelis.

Psalm 83:1 In-Context

1 O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads.

3 They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones.

4 They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more! ”

5 For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant—

Cross References

• 1. 83:1 See Ps. 28:1