Psalm 11
Lexham English Bible
Confidence in Yahweh’s Righteousness
For the music director. Of David.[a]
11 In Yahweh I have taken refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee to your mountain like a bird”?
2 For look: The wicked string the bow.[b]
They have fitted their arrow to the string,
to shoot from the darkness
at the upright of heart.
3 When the foundations are destroyed
what can the righteous do?[c]
4 Yahweh is in his holy temple;
Yahweh is in the heavens on his throne.
His eyelids see;
they test the children of humankind.
5 Yahweh tests the righteous,
but the wicked and the lover of violence
his soul hates.
6 He will rain coals[d] on the wicked.
Burning sulfur and scorching wind
will be the portion of their cup.
7 For Yahweh is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds.
The upright shall see his face.
Footnotes
- Psalm 11:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
- Psalm 11:2 Literally “tread the bow,” that is, placing the foot on the bow to bend and string it
- Psalm 11:3 Or “what has the righteous done”
- Psalm 11:6 According to Symmachus (compare also Targum Psalms) a form slightly different from the MT’s “snares”
Psalm 11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 11
Song of Trust in God
To the leader. Of David.
1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,
“Flee like a bird to the mountains,[a](A)
2 for look, the wicked bend the bow,
they have fitted their arrow to the string,
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.(B)
3 If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”(C)
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold; his gaze examines humankind.(D)
5 The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
and his soul hates the lover of violence.(E)
6 On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur;
a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.(F)
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.(G)
Footnotes
- 11.1 Gk Syr Jerome Tg: Heb flee to your mountain, O bird
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.