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Psalm 46
New International Version

Psalm 46[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.

1 God is our refuge(A) and strength,(B)
    an ever-present(C) help(D) in trouble.(E)
2 Therefore we will not fear,(F) though the earth give way(G)
    and the mountains fall(H) into the heart of the sea,(I)
3 though its waters roar(J) and foam(K)
    and the mountains quake(L) with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river(M) whose streams(N) make glad the city of God,(O)
    the holy place where the Most High(P) dwells.(Q)
5 God is within her,(R) she will not fall;(S)
    God will help(T) her at break of day.
6 Nations(U) are in uproar,(V) kingdoms(W) fall;
    he lifts his voice,(X) the earth melts.(Y)

7 The Lord Almighty(Z) is with us;(AA)
    the God of Jacob(AB) is our fortress.(AC)

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,(AD)
    the desolations(AE) he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars(AF) cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow(AG) and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields[d] with fire.(AH)
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;(AI)
    I will be exalted(AJ) among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob(AK) is our fortress.(AL)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
  2. Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
  4. Psalm 46:9 Or chariots
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Psalm 46
The Message

46 1-3 God is a safe place to hide,
    ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
    courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
    the tremors that shift mountains.

    Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

4-6 River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city,
    this sacred haunt of the Most High.
God lives here, the streets are safe,
    God at your service from crack of dawn.
Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,
    but Earth does anything he says.

7     Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
    He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
    breaks all the weapons across his knee.
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
    loving look at me, your High God,
    above politics, above everything.”

11     Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

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Psalm 46
Contemporary English Version

(A special song by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)

God Is Our Mighty Fortress

1 God is our mighty fortress,
always ready to help
    in times of trouble.
2 And so, we won't be afraid!
Let the earth tremble
and the mountains tumble
    into the deepest sea.
3 Let the ocean roar and foam,
and its raging waves
    shake the mountains.

4 A river and its streams
    bring joy to the city,
which is the sacred home
    of God Most High.
5 God is in that city,
and it won't be shaken.
    He will help it at dawn.

6 Nations rage! Kingdoms fall!
But at the voice of God
    the earth itself melts.
7 The Lord All-Powerful
    is with us.
The God of Jacob
    is our fortress.

8 Come! See the fearsome things
    the Lord has done on earth.
9 God brings wars to an end
    all over the world.
He breaks the arrows,
shatters the spears,
    and burns the shields.[a]
10 Our God says, “Calm down,
    and learn that I am God!
All nations on earth
    will honor me.”

11 The Lord All-Powerful
    is with us.
The God of Jacob
    is our fortress.

Footnotes

  1. 46.9 shields: Or “chariots.”
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Psalm 46
New Living Translation

Psalm 46

For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.[a]

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude

4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
    the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
    From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
    and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
    and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel[b] is our fortress. Interlude

8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
    See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
    He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”

11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude

Footnotes

  1. 46:Title Hebrew according to alamoth.
  2. 46:7 Hebrew of Jacob; also in 46:11. See note on 44:4.
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Psalm 46
Expanded Bible

God Protects His People

For the director of music. By ·alamoth [maidens; young women; C perhaps for soprano voices]. A psalm of the sons of Korah [C descendants of Kohath, son of Levi, who served as Temple musicians; 1 Chr. 6:22].

46 God is our ·protection [refuge] and our strength.
    He ·always helps [is an ever present/timely help] in times of ·trouble [distress].
2 So we will not be afraid even if the earth ·shakes [quakes],
    or the mountains ·fall [reel; totter] into the heart of the sea,
3 even if the ·oceans [L waters] roar and foam,
    or the mountains ·shake [tremble] at ·the raging sea [L its surging]. ·Selah [Interlude]

4 There is a river ·that [L whose channels/streams] brings joy to the city of God,
    the holy place where God Most High lives.
5 God is in that city, and so it will not ·be shaken [reel; totter].
    God will help her at dawn.
6 Nations ·tremble [roar] and kingdoms ·shake [reel; totter].
    God ·shouts [L gives forth his voice] and the earth ·crumbles [melts].

7 The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] is with us;
the God of Jacob is our ·defender [refuge; fortress]. ·Selah [Interlude]

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
    ·the amazing things he has done [or the desolations he has brought] on the earth.
9 He stops wars ·everywhere on [L to the ends of] the earth.
    He breaks all bows and shatters spears
    and burns up the ·chariots [or shields] with fire.
10 God says, “Be still and know that I am God.
    I will be ·praised [exalted] in all the nations;
I will be ·praised [exalted] throughout the earth.”

11 The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] is with us;
the God of Jacob is our ·defender [refuge; fortress]. ·Selah [Interlude]

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