Psalm 91

The Protection of the Most High

The one who lives under the protection of the Most High
dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.(A)

I will say[a] concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust:(B)
He himself will rescue you from the bird trap,(C)
from the destructive plague.
He will cover you with his feathers;
you will take refuge under his wings.(D)
His faithfulness will be a protective shield.(E)
You will not fear the terror of the night,
the arrow that flies by day,(F)
the plague that stalks in darkness,
or the pestilence that ravages at noon.(G)
Though a thousand fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand,
the pestilence will not reach you.(H)
You will only see it with your eyes
and witness the punishment of the wicked.(I)

Because you have made the Lord—my refuge,(J)
the Most High—your dwelling place,(K)
10 no harm will come to you;
no plague will come near your tent.(L)
11 For he will give his angels orders concerning you,
to protect you in all your ways.(M)
12 They will support you with their hands
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.(N)
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the young lion and the serpent.(O)

14 Because he has his heart set on me,
I will deliver him;
I will protect him because he knows my name.(P)
15 When he calls out to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble.
I will rescue him and give him honor.(Q)
16 I will satisfy him with a long life(R)
and show him my salvation.(S)

Footnotes

  1. 91:1–2 LXX, Syr, Jer read Almighty, saying, or Almighty, he will say

A Davidic Psalm[a]

God is My Refuge

91 The one who lives in the shelter of the Most High,
    who rests in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord,
    “You are my refuge, my fortress,
        and my God in whom I trust!”

He will surely deliver you from the hunter’s snare
    and from the destructive plague.
With his feathers he will cover you,
    under his wings you will find safety.
        His truth is your shield and armor.

You need not fear terror that stalks[b] in the night,
    the arrow that flies in the day,
plague that strikes in the darkness,
    or calamity that destroys at noon.
If a thousand fall at your side
    or ten thousand at your right hand,
        it will not overcome you.
Only observe[c] it with your eyes,
    and you will see how the wicked are paid back.

Lord, you are my refuge!”

Because you chose the Most High as your dwelling place,
10 no evil will fall upon you,
        and no affliction will approach your tent,
11 for he will command his angels
    to protect you in all your ways.
12 With their hands they will lift you up
    so you will not trip over a stone.
13 You will stomp on lions and snakes;
    you will trample young lions and serpents.

The Lord Speaks

14 Because he has focused his love on me,
    I will deliver him.
I will protect him[d]
    because he knows my name.
15 When he calls out to me,
    I will answer him.
I will be with him in his[e] distress.
    I will deliver him,
        and I will honor him.
16 I will satisfy him with long life;
    I will show him my deliverance.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 91:1 So LXX; DSS 11QPsa lacks Psalm; the Heb. lacks this line
  2. Psalm 91:5 The Heb. lacks that stalks
  3. Psalm 91:8 Or Only you will observe
  4. Psalm 91:14 Or will set him on high
  5. Psalm 91:15 The Heb. lacks his