Psalm 11

Refuge in the Lord

For the choir director. Of David.

I have taken refuge in the Lord.(A)
How can you say to me,
“Escape to the mountains[a] like a bird!(B)
For look, the wicked string bows;
they put their arrows on bowstrings
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.(C)
When the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?” (D)

The Lord is in his holy temple;(E)
the Lord—his throne is in heaven.(F)
His eyes watch;
his gaze[b] examines everyone.[c]
The Lord examines the righteous,
but he hates the wicked
and[d] those who love violence.(G)
Let him rain burning coals[e] and sulfur on the wicked;
let a scorching wind be the portion in their cup.(H)
For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds.
The upright will see his face.(I)

Footnotes

  1. 11:1 Lit your mountain
  2. 11:4 Lit eyelids
  3. 11:4 Or examines the descendants of Adam
  4. 11:5 Or righteous and the wicked, and he hates
  5. 11:6 Sym; MT reads rain snares, fire

The Lord Is in His Holy Temple

To the choirmaster. Of David.

11 In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
    (A)“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
for behold, the wicked (B)bend the bow;
    (C)they have fitted their arrow to the string
    to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
if (D)the foundations are destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”[a]

(E)The Lord is in his holy temple;
    the Lord's (F)throne is in heaven;
    his eyes see, his eyelids (G)test the children of man.
The Lord (H)tests the righteous,
    but (I)his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Let him rain coals on the wicked;
    (J)fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be (K)the portion of their cup.
For the Lord is righteous;
he (L)loves righteous deeds;
    (M)the upright shall behold his face.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 11:3 Or for the foundations will be destroyed; what has the righteous done?