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Psalm 11

Faith, Not Flight

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For the choir director. By David.

The Fear of the Fainthearted

In the Lord I take refuge.
How can you say to my soul:
“Flee to your mountain like a bird.
Look! The wicked bend their bow.
They set their arrow against the string
    to shoot in the darkness at the upright in heart.
When the foundations are being torn down,
    what can the righteous do?”

David’s Answer

The Lord is in his holy temple.
The Lord is on his throne in heaven.
His eyes observe.
He focuses on[a] the children of Adam.[b]
The Lord is righteous.
He examines the wicked.
He really hates[c] those who love violence.
On the wicked he will rain down fiery coals and sulfur.[d]
A scorching wind will be the cup given to them.
Indeed, the Lord is righteous. He loves righteousness.
The upright will view his face.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 11:4 Literally his eyelids test
  2. Psalm 11:4 Or sons of man, that is, all mankind
  3. Psalm 11:5 Literally his soul hates
  4. Psalm 11:6 The Hebrew text reads snares, fire, and sulfur. The translation follows one Greek version, which inverts two letters in one Hebrew word, changing snares to fiery coals.