The Lord, a Refuge and Defense.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

11 In the Lord I (A)take refuge;
How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your (B)mountain?
For, behold, the wicked (C)bend the bow,
They have [a](D)set their arrow on the string
To (E)shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
If the (F)foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?”

The Lord is in His (G)holy temple; the [b]Lords (H)throne is in heaven;
His (I)eyes see, His eyelids test the sons of mankind.
The Lord (J)tests the righteous and (K)the wicked,
And His soul hates one who loves violence.
He will (L)rain [c]coals of fire upon the wicked,
(M)And brimstone and (N)burning wind will be the portion of (O)their cup.
For the Lord is (P)righteous, (Q)He loves [d]righteousness;
The upright will (R)see His face.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 11:2 Or fixed
  2. Psalm 11:4 Lit Lord, His throne
  3. Psalm 11:6 As in a Gr version; MT snares; Fire and
  4. Psalm 11:7 Or righteous deeds

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