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

To the Director: A Davidic Song.[a]

Confident Trust in God

11 I take refuge in the Lord.
    So how can you say to me,
        “Flee like a bird to the mountains.”?
Look, the wicked have bent their bow
    and placed their arrow[b] on the string,[c]
        to shoot from the darkness[d] at the upright in heart.
When the foundations are destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?

The Lord is in his holy Temple;
    the Lord’s throne is in the heavens.
His eyes see,
    his glance[e] examines humanity.[f]
The Lord examines the righteous,
    but the wicked and those who love violence, he hates.
He rains on the wicked burning coals and sulfur;
    a scorching wind is their destiny.[g]
Indeed, the Lord is righteous;
    he loves righteousness;
        the upright will see him face-to-face.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 11:1 The Heb. lacks A song
  2. Psalm 11:2 So MT DSS 5/6HevPs; DSS 4QCatena A LXX read arrows
  3. Psalm 11:2 So MT; LXX reads arrows for the quiver
  4. Psalm 11:2 So MT DSS; LXX reads shoot on a moonless night
  5. Psalm 11:4 Lit. eyelids
  6. Psalm 11:4 Lit. examines the children of men
  7. Psalm 11:6 Lit. the portion of their cup