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Psalm 46  New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Psalm 46[a]

God, the Protector of Zion

1 For the leader. A song of the Korahites. According to alamoth.[b]

I

2 God is our refuge and our strength,
    an ever-present help in distress.(A)
3 [c]Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken
    and mountains quake to the depths of the sea,
4 Though its waters rage and foam
    and mountains totter at its surging.(B)
Selah

II

5 [d]Streams of the river gladden the city of God,
    the holy dwelling of the Most High.(C)
6 God is in its midst; it shall not be shaken;
    God will help it at break of day.(D)
7 Though nations rage and kingdoms totter,
    he utters his voice and the earth melts.(E)
8 [e]The Lord of hosts is with us;
    our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Selah

III

9 Come and see the works of the Lord,
    who has done fearsome deeds on earth;(F)
10 Who stops wars to the ends of the earth,
    breaks the bow, splinters the spear,
    and burns the shields with fire;(G)
11 (H)“Be still and know that I am God!
    I am exalted among the nations,
    exalted on the earth.”
12 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Selah

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 46 A song of confidence in God’s protection of Zion with close parallels to Ps 48. The dominant note in Ps 46 is sounded by the refrain, The Lord of hosts is with us (Ps 46:8, 12). The first strophe (Ps 46:2–4) sings of the security of God’s presence even in utter chaos; the second (Ps 46:5–8), of divine protection of the city from its enemies; the third (Ps 46:9–11), of God’s imposition of imperial peace.
  2. 46:1 Alamoth: the melody of the Psalm, now lost.
  3. 46:3–4 Figurative ancient Near Eastern language to describe social and political upheavals.
  4. 46:5 Jerusalem is not situated on a river. This description derives from mythological descriptions of the divine abode and symbolizes the divine presence as the source of all life (cf. Is 33:21; Ez 47:1–12; Jl 4:18; Zec 14:8; Rev 22:1–2).
  5. 46:8 The first line of the refrain is similar in structure and meaning to Isaiah’s name for the royal child, Emmanuel, With us is God (Is 7:14; 8:8, 10).

Cross references

  1. 46:2 : Ps 48:4; Is 33:2.
  2. 46:4 : Ps 93:3–4; Jb 9:5–6; Is 24:18–20; 54:10.
  3. 46:5 : Ps 48:2–3; 76:3.
  4. 46:6 : Is 7:14.
  5. 46:7 : Ps 2:1–5; 48:5–8; 76:7–9; Is 17:12–14.
  6. 46:9 : Ps 48:9–10.
  7. 46:10 : Ps 76:4.
  8. 46:11 : Ps 48:11.
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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.