Psalm 11

Refuge in the Lord

For the choir director. Davidic.

I have taken refuge in the Lord.(A)
How can you say to me,
“Escape to the mountain like a bird![a](B)
For look, the wicked string the bow;
they put the[b] arrow on the bowstring
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’s throne is in heaven.(F)
His eyes watch; He examines[c] everyone.
The Lord examines the righteous and the wicked.
He hates the lover of violence.(G)
He will rain burning coals[d] and sulfur on the wicked;
a scorching wind will be their portion.[e](H)
For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds.
The upright will see His face.(I)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 11:1 Lit to your mountain, bird
  2. Psalm 11:2 Lit their
  3. Psalm 11:4 Lit His eyelids examine
  4. Psalm 11:6 Sym; MT reads rain snares, fire
  5. Psalm 11:6 Lit be the portion of their cup

Psalm 11

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

I trust in the Lord for protection.
So why do you say to me,
    “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
The wicked are stringing their bows
    and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings.
They shoot from the shadows
    at those whose hearts are right.
The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
    What can the righteous do?”

But the Lord is in his holy Temple;
    the Lord still rules from heaven.
He watches everyone closely,
    examining every person on earth.
The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.
    He hates those who love violence.
He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,
    punishing them with scorching winds.
For the righteous Lord loves justice.
    The virtuous will see his face.