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Confidence in the Lord[a]

11 I trust in the Lord for safety.
    How foolish of you to say to me,
“Fly away like a bird to the mountains,[b]
    because the wicked have drawn their bows and aimed their arrows
    to shoot from the shadows at good people.
There is nothing a good person can do
    when everything falls apart.”

The Lord is in his holy temple;
    he has his throne in heaven.
He watches people everywhere
    and knows what they are doing.
He examines the good and the wicked alike;
    the lawless he hates with all his heart.

He sends down flaming coals[c] and burning sulfur on the wicked;
    he punishes them with scorching winds.
The Lord is righteous and loves good deeds;
    those who do them will live in his presence.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 11:1 HEBREW TITLE: By David.
  2. Psalm 11:1 Some ancient translations like a bird to the mountains; Hebrew bird, to your (plural) mountain.
  3. Psalm 11:6 One ancient translation coals; Hebrew traps.

Psalm 11

For the director of music. Of David.

In the Lord I take refuge.(A)
    How then can you say to me:
    “Flee(B) like a bird to your mountain.(C)
For look, the wicked bend their bows;(D)
    they set their arrows(E) against the strings
to shoot from the shadows(F)
    at the upright in heart.(G)
When the foundations(H) are being destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”

The Lord is in his holy temple;(I)
    the Lord is on his heavenly throne.(J)
He observes everyone on earth;(K)
    his eyes examine(L) them.
The Lord examines the righteous,(M)
    but the wicked, those who love violence,
    he hates with a passion.(N)
On the wicked he will rain
    fiery coals and burning sulfur;(O)
    a scorching wind(P) will be their lot.

For the Lord is righteous,(Q)
    he loves justice;(R)
    the upright(S) will see his face.(T)

11 In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.