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

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)