Psalms – Chapter 83

Old Testament13 Verses

1Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for the sons of Core.

2How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!

3my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God.

4For the sparrow hath found herself a house, and the turtle a nest for herself where she may lay her young ones: Thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God.

5Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, O Lord: they shall praise thee for ever and ever.

6Blessed is the man whose help is from thee: in his heart he hath disposed to ascend by steps,

7In the vale of tears, in the place which he hath set.

8For the lawgiver shall give a blessing, they shall go from virtue to virtue: the God of gods shall be seen in Sion.

9O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob.

10Behold, O God our protector: and look on the face of thy Christ.

11For better is one day in thy courts above thousands. I have chosen to be an abject in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners.

12For God loveth mercy and truth: the Lord will give grace and glory.

13He will not deprive of good things them that walk in innocence: O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Reflection for Today

The message of Psalms Chapter 83 unfolds within the broader narrative of prayer, praise, and the full range of human emotion before God. Catholic theology, drawing on the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589), sees in this chapter a call to deeper faith. The principle that God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him guides our interpretation.

The Church Fathers, including St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and St. John Chrysostom, devoted themselves to explaining Scripture for the faithful. Their insights, preserved in the Church's Tradition, continue to illuminate our reading. The Catechism reminds us that "the Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures as she venerated the Body of the Lord" (CIC 103).

As you engage with this chapter, bring your questions, struggles, and hopes to the text. God's Word addresses the whole person—mind, heart, and will. Through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, we receive the grace to live what we read. May this chapter strengthen your faith and deepen your love for Christ and His Church.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

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