Psalm 82.  Deus, quis similis?

Beset by enemies
Another dismal page of Jewish history.  The kingdom is surrounded by an alliance of enemies.  They are determined to wipe the nation out.  The Psalm is a fervent plea for God's help; he will not turn his back upon his inheritance.

The Psalm present two pictures:

  1. Our blessed Lord surrounded by his enemies, being led off to his death; we hear his prayer and lamentation.

  2. The Catholic Church, new Israel, beset by enemies; but "the gates of hell shall not prevail against her."

The enemy alliance

Deus, quis símilis erit tibi? * Ne táceas, neque compescáris, Deus.
2  Quóniam ecce inimíci tui sonuérunt: * et qui odérunt te extulérunt caput.
3  Super pópulum tuum malignavérunt consílium: * et cogitavérunt advérsus sanctos tuos.
4  Dixérunt:  Veníte, et disperdámus eos de gente: * et non memorétur nomen Israël ultra.
5  Quóniam cogitavérunt unanímiter: * simul advérsum te testaméntum disposuérunt, tabernácula Idumæórum et Ismahelítæ:
6  Moab, et Agaréni, Gebal, et Ammon, et Amalec: * alienígenæ cum habitántibus Tyrum.
7  Etenim Assur venit cum illis: * facti sunt in adjutórium fíliis Lot.

O God, who shall be like unto thee? * hold not thy tongue, O God, keep not still silence.
2  For lo, thine enemies have made a noise; * and they that hate thee have lift up their head.
3  They have taken counsel against thy people, * and imagined craftily against thy holy ones.
4  They have said, Come, and let us destroy them, so that they be not a nation, * and that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5  For they have contrived with one consent, * and have made a covenant together against thee, the tabernacles of the Edomites, and the Ismaeites.
6  Moab and the Hagarens, Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; * the Philistines, with them that dwell at Tyre.
7  Assur also is joined with them; * and have holpen the children of Lot.

Punish them, O God

8  Fac illis sicut Mádian, et Sísaræ: * sicut Jabin in torrénte Cisson.
9  Disperiérunt in Endor: * facti sunt ut stercus terræ.
10  Pone príncipes eórum sicut Oreb, et Zeb, * et Zébee, et Sálmana:
11  Omnes príncipes eórum: * qui dixérunt : Hereditáte possideámus Sanctuárium Dei.

8  But do thou to them as thou didst unto Madian and Sisera, * and unto Jabin at the brook of Kison;
9  Who perished at Endor, * and became as the dung of the earth.
10  Make their princes like Oreb and Zeb; * even like as Zeba and Salmana;
11  Yea, all their princes : * who have said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.

Destroy them utterly

12  Deus meus, pone illos ut rotam: * et sicut stípulam ante fáciem venti.
13  Sicut ignis, qui combúrit silvam: * et sicut flamma combúrens montes:
14  Ita persequéris illos in tempestáte tua: * et in ira tua turbábis eos.
15  Imple fácies eórum ignomínia: * et quærent nomen tuum, Dómine.

12  O my God, make them like unto a wheel, * and as the stubble before the wind;
13  Like as the fire that burneth up the wood, * and as the flame that consumeth the mountains;
14  So shalt thou pursue them in thy tempest, * and trouble them in thy wrath.
15  Fill their faces with shame, * and they shall seek thy Name, O Lord.

Finale

16  Erubéscant, et conturbéntur in sæculum sæculi: * et confundántur, et péreant.
17  (fit reverentia) Et cognóscant quia nomen tibi Dóminus: * tu solus Altíssimus in omni terra.

16  Let them be confounded and vexed ever more and more; * let them be put to shame, and perish.
17  (all bow) And they shall know that the Lord is thy Name, * thou alone art the Most Highest over all the earth.