Font Size
Psalm 11:1-3
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 11:1-3
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 11[a]
Unshakable Confidence in God
1 For the director.[b] Of David.
[c]In the Lord I take refuge.
How can you say to me,
“Flee like a bird to your mountains!
2 For behold, the wicked are bending their bows
as they fit their arrows to the string
so that from the shadows
they can shoot at those who are upright.[d]
3 If the foundations[e] are destroyed,
what can be done by those who are righteous?”
Footnotes
- Psalm 11:1 This is a confession of confident trust in the Lord’s righteous rule at a time when one’s wicked adversaries seem to have the upper hand. Friends counsel flight to a mountain refuge to escape trouble, but the innocent psalmist stands fast, for the Lord protects those who seek asylum in his temple.
In praying this psalm, we should be mindful that although we can rely on God, we are never sure of ourselves. The Spirit of God is quick to help, but the “flesh,” human nature, is weak—so much so that we must ask not to be put to the test (see Mt 26:41) and must flee from it if this is possible and permitted (see Mt 10:23). - Psalm 11:1 For the director: these words are thought to be a musical or liturgical notation.
- Psalm 11:1 The psalmist remains confident in the Lord even though he is under attack by the wicked and receives counsel from his advisers to flee.
- Psalm 11:2 The wicked are likened to archers setting traps; they are treacherous, furtive, and bent on maligning the upright and making them fall (see Pss 10:7-10; 37:14). Those who are upright: i.e., the righteous who know and love the Lord (see Pss 7:10; 36:11; 73:1).
- Psalm 11:3 The psalmist’s advisers are concerned about the collapse of the foundations (i.e., the order of society; see Pss 75:4; 82:5; Ezek 30:4). This order has been established by the Lord at creation and is being maintained by him.
