Deus, quis similis erit tibi?
(= Psalm 83 in Hebrew numbering)
Versus 1
Deus, quis similis erit tibi? Ne taceas, neque compescaris, Deus.
O God, who shall be like you? Do not be silent, nor still yourself, O God.
Word Notes:
- quis similis – who is like?
- taceo – tacere – tacui – tacitum (2) – to be silent.
- compesco – compescere – compescui – compescitum (3) – to restrain, hold back, keep still.
Versus 2
Quoniam ecce inimici tui sonuerunt, et qui oderunt te extulerunt caput.
For behold, your enemies have made noise, and those who hate you have lifted up their head.
Word Notes:
- inimicus, -i m. (2) – enemy.
- sono – sonare – sonui – sonitum (1) – to sound, make a noise.
- odi, odisse (defective) – to hate.
- extollo – extollere (irreg./3) – to lift up, exalt.
- caput, capitis n. (3) – head.
Versus 3
Super populum tuum malignaverunt consilium, et cogitaverunt adversus sanctos tuos.
Against your people they have plotted a wicked plan, and they have conspired against your holy ones.
Word Notes:
- maligno – malignare – malignavi – malignatum (1) – to plot wickedly.
- consilium, -ii n. (2) – plan, counsel.
- cogito – cogitare – cogitavi – cogitatum (1) – to think, devise.
- sanctus, -i m. (2) – holy one, saint.
Versus 4
Dixerunt: Venite, et disperdamus eos de gente, et non memoretur nomen Israel ultra.
They have said: Come, let us destroy them as a nation, and let the name of Israel be remembered no more.
Word Notes:
- venio – venire – veni – ventum (4) – to come.
- disperdo – disperdere – disperdi – dispersum (3) – to destroy completely.
- memoro – memorare – memoravi – memoratum (1) – to remember.
- ultra – any more, further.
Versus 5
Quoniam cogitaverunt unanimiter; simul adversum te testamentum disposuerunt:
For they have conspired with one mind; together they have made a covenant against you:
Word Notes:
- unanimiter – with one mind, unanimously.
- simul – together.
- testamentum, -i n. (2) – pact, covenant.
- dispono – disponere – disposui – dispositum (3) – to arrange, make, set in order.
Versus 6
Tabernacula Idumaeorum, et Ismahelitae; Moab, et Agareni;
The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites;
Word Notes:
- tabernaculum, -i n. (2) – tent, dwelling.
- Idumaei, -orum m. pl. (2) – Edomites.
- Ismahelitae, -arum m. pl. (1) – Ishmaelites.
- Moab – Moab, Moabites.
- Agareni, -orum m. pl. (2) – Hagrites (descendants of Hagar).
Versus 7
Gebal, et Ammon, et Amalec; alienigenae cum habitantibus Tyrum.
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the foreigners with those who dwell in Tyre.
Word Notes:
- Gebal – Gebalites (Byblos).
- Ammon – Ammonites.
- Amalek – Amalekites.
- alienigena, -ae m./f. (1) – foreigner.
- habito – habitare – habitavi – habitatum (1) – to live, dwell.
- Tyrus, -i f. (2) – Tyre.
Versus 8
Etenim Assur venit cum illis; facti sunt in adjutorium filiis Lot.
For even Assyria has joined with them; they have become a help to the children of Lot.
Word Notes:
- Assur – Assyria.
- venit – (perfect) has come.
- adjutorium, -ii n. (2) – help, support.
- filii Lot – the descendants of Lot (Moab & Ammon).
Versus 9
Fac illis sicut Madianitis, et Sisarae, sicut Jabin in torrente Cisson.
Do to them as you did to the Midianites, and to Sisera, and to Jabin at the brook Kishon.
Word Notes:
- facio – facere – feci – factum (3/irreg.) – to make, do.
- Madianitae – Midianites (Judges 7).
- Sisara, -ae m. (1) – Sisera (Judges 4).
- Jabin, -is m. (3) – King Jabin.
- torrens, torrentis m. (3) – brook, wadi.
- Cisson (Cison), -is m. (3) – Kishon.
Versus 10
Disperierunt in Endor; facti sunt ut stercus terrae.
They perished at Endor; they became as dung on the ground.
Word Notes:
- disperio – disperire – disperii (4/irreg.) – to perish utterly.
- Endor – Endor (Judges 7).
- stercus, -oris n. (3) – dung, refuse.
Versus 11
Pone principes eorum sicut Oreb, et Zeb, et Zebee, et Salmana; omnes principes eorum.
Make their leaders like Oreb and Zeeb, like Zebah and Zalmunna; all their princes.
Word Notes:
- pono – ponere – posui – positum (3) – to put, place.
- princeps, principis m. (3) – leader, prince.
- Oreb, Zeb – Midianite leaders.
- Zebee (Zeba), Salmana (Zalmunna) – Midianite kings (Judges 8).
Versus 12
Qui dixerunt: Haereditate possideamus sanctuarium Dei.
Who have said: Let us seize for ourselves the sanctuary of God as an inheritance.
Word Notes:
- haereditas, -atis f. (3) – inheritance.
- possideo – possidere – possedi – possessum (2) – to possess.
- sanctuarium, -ii n. (2) – sanctuary.
Versus 13
Deus meus, pone illos ut rotam, et sicut stipulam ante faciem venti.
O my God, make them like a wheel, like chaff before the wind.
Word Notes:
- rota, -ae f. (1) – wheel.
- stipula, -ae f. (1) – straw, chaff.
- ventus, -i m. (2) – wind.
Versus 14
Sicut ignis qui comburit silvam, et sicut flamma comburens montes;
As fire that burns a forest, and as a flame that sets mountains ablaze;
Word Notes:
- ignis, -is m. (3) – fire.
- comburō – comburere – combussī – combustum (3) – to burn up.
- silva, -ae f. (1) – forest.
- flamma, -ae f. (1) – flame.
- mons, montis m. (3) – mountain.
Versus 15
Ita persequeris illos in tempestate tua, et in ira tua turbabis eos.
So pursue them with your storm, and trouble them with your fury.
Word Notes:
- persequor – persequi – persecutus sum (dep. 3) – to pursue.
- tempestas, -atis f. (3) – storm.
- ira, -ae f. (1) – anger, wrath.
- turbo – turbare – turbavi – turbatum (1) – to trouble, disturb.
Versus 16
Impl(e) facies eorum ignominia, et quaerent nomen tuum, Domine.
Fill their faces with shame, and they will seek your name, O Lord.
Word Notes:
- impleo – implere – implevi – impletum (2) – to fill.
- facies, faciei f. (5) – face.
- ignominia, -ae f. (1) – disgrace, shame.
- quaero – quaerere – quaesivi – quaesitum (3) – to seek.
Versus 17–18
Erubescant et conturbentur in aeternum; et confundantur et pereant.
Et cognoscant quia nomen tibi Dominus; tu solus Altissimus super omnem terram.
Let them be ashamed and troubled forever; let them be confounded and perish.
And let them know that your name is the Lord; you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
Word Notes:
- erubesco – erubescere – erubui (3) – to be ashamed.
- conturbo – conturbare – conturbavi – conturbatum (1) – to trouble greatly.
- confundo – confundere – confudi – confusum (3) – to confound, put to shame.
- pereo – perire – perii – peritum (4) – to perish.
- Altissimus, -i m. (2) – the Most High.
Summary Commentary
Psalm 82 (Vulgate) is a national lament and imprecation: a plea for God to intervene against a confederation of enemy nations. It reflects a geopolitical crisis in which Israel feels surrounded by a hostile alliance.
Three features define the psalm:
- Historical consciousness.
The psalm names eleven hostile groups; it treats past deliverances (Midian, Sisera, Jabin) as models for present hope. - Theology of justice.
Israel does not ask for conquest for its own sake but for the vindication of God’s name: “et quaerent nomen tuum, Domine.” - Universal affirmation.
The psalm ends with the confession that God alone is Altissimus super omnem terram — a universal declaration rising out of tribal crisis.
In your broader project, this psalm illustrates how collective fear, memory, and identity shape spiritual perception — a key part of your historical-psychological reading of scripture.
Exercises
(a) English → Latin Translation
Translate:
- Your enemies have lifted up their head.
- Come, let us destroy them as a nation.
- Make them like chaff before the wind.
- You alone are the Most High over all the earth.
Key:
- Inimici tui extulerunt caput.
- Venite, et disperdamus eos de gente.
- Pone illos sicut stipulam ante faciem venti.
- Tu solus Altissimus super omnem terram.
(b) Verb Form Practice
Present / imperfect / future:
- taceo – tacere
- dispono – disponere
- persequor – persequi
- comburō – comburere
- quaero – quaerere
Model Answers:
- taceo / tacebam / tacebo
- dispono / disponebam / disponam
- persequor / persequebar / persequar
- comburo / comburebam / comburam
- quaero / quaerebam / quaeram
(c) Reflection Questions
- How does the psalm transform political threat into spiritual interpretation?
- Why does the psalm recall past victories (Midian, Sisera, Jabin)?
- In what sense is the climax (“You alone are the Most High”) a universalising conclusion?