1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
1 He that dwelleth H3427 in the secret H5643 place of the most High H5945 shall abide H3885 under the shadow H6738 of the Almighty. H7706
2 I will say H559 of the LORD, H3068 He is my refuge H4268 and my fortress: H4686 my God; H430 in him will I trust. H982
3 Surely he shall deliver H5337 thee from the snare H6341 of the fowler, H3353 and from the noisome H1942 pestilence. H1698
4 He shall cover H5526 thee with his feathers, H84 and under his wings H3671 shalt thou trust: H2620 his truth H571 shall be thy shield H6793 and buckler. H5507
5 Thou shalt not be afraid H3372 for the terror H6343 by night; H3915 nor for the arrow H2671 that flieth H5774 by day; H3119
6 Nor for the pestilence H1698 that walketh H1980 in darkness; H652 nor for the destruction H6986 that wasteth H7736 at noonday. H6672
7 A thousand H505 shall fall H5307 at thy side, H6654 and ten thousand H7233 at thy right hand; H3225 but it shall not come nigh H5066 thee.
8 Only with thine eyes H5869 shalt thou behold H5027 and see H7200 the reward H8011 of the wicked. H7563
9 Because thou hast made H7760 the LORD, H3068 which is my refuge, H4268 even the most High, H5945 thy habitation; H4583
10 There shall no evil H7451 befall H579 thee, neither shall any plague H5061 come nigh H7126 thy dwelling. H168
11 For he shall give his angels H4397 charge H6680 over thee, to keep H8104 thee in all thy ways. H1870
12 They shall bear thee up H5375 in their hands, H3709 lest thou dash H5062 thy foot H7272 against a stone. H68
13 Thou shalt tread H1869 upon the lion H7826 and adder: H6620 the young lion H3715 and the dragon H8577 shalt thou trample under feet. H7429
14 Because he hath set his love H2836 upon me, therefore will I deliver H6403 him: I will set him on high, H7682 because he hath known H3045 my name. H8034
15 He shall call H7121 upon me, and I will answer H6030 him: I will be with him in trouble; H6869 I will deliver H2502 him, and honour H3513 him.
16 With long H753 life H3117 will I satisfy H7646 him, and shew H7200 him my salvation. H3444
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust.
3 For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover thee with his pinions, And under his wings shalt thou take refuge: His truth is a shield and a buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; `But' it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the reward of the wicked.
9 For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent.
11 For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: The young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under foot.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, And show him my salvation. Psalm 92 A Psalm, a Song for the sabbath day.
1 He who is dwelling In the secret place of the Most High, In the shade of the Mighty lodgeth habitually,
2 He is saying of Jehovah, `My refuge, and my bulwark, my God, I trust in Him,'
3 For He delivereth thee from the snare of a fowler, From a calamitous pestilence.
4 With His pinion He covereth thee over, And under His wings thou dost trust, A shield and buckler `is' His truth.
5 Thou art not afraid of fear by night, Of arrow that flieth by day,
6 Of pestilence in thick darkness that walketh, Of destruction that destroyeth at noon,
7 There fall at thy side a thousand, And a myriad at thy right hand, Unto thee it cometh not nigh.
8 But with thine eyes thou lookest, And the reward of the wicked thou seest,
9 (For Thou, O Jehovah, `art' my refuge,) The Most High thou madest thy habitation.
10 Evil happeneth not unto thee, And a plague cometh not near thy tent,
11 For His messengers He chargeth for thee, To keep thee in all thy ways,
12 On the hands they bear thee up, Lest thou smite against a stone thy foot.
13 On lion and asp thou treadest, Thou trampest young lion and dragon.
14 Because in Me he hath delighted, I also deliver him -- I set him on high, Because he hath known My name.
15 He doth call Me, and I answer him, I `am' with him in distress, I deliver him, and honour him.
16 With length of days I satisfy him, And I cause him to look on My salvation!
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I say of Jehovah, My refuge and my fortress; my God, I will confide in him.
3 Surely *he* shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the destructive pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou find refuge: his truth is a shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, for the arrow that flieth by day,
6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because *thou* hast made Jehovah, my refuge, the Most High, thy dwelling-place,
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent.
11 For he shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to keep thee in all thy ways:
12 They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and the adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under foot.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him.
16 With length of days will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of Yahweh, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust."
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes, And see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, And the Most High your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall happen to you, Neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For he will give his angels charge over you, To guard you in all your ways.
12 They will bear you up in their hands, So that you won't dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.
14 "Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him.
16 I will satisfy him with long life, And show him my salvation."
1 Happy is he whose resting-place is in the secret of the Lord, and under the shade of the wings of the Most High;
2 Who says of the Lord, He is my safe place and my tower of strength: he is my God, in whom is my hope.
3 He will take you out of the bird-net, and keep you safe from wasting disease.
4 You will be covered by his feathers; under his wings you will be safe: his good faith will be your salvation.
5 You will have no fear of the evil things of the night, or of the arrow in flight by day,
6 Or of the disease which takes men in the dark, or of the destruction which makes waste when the sun is high.
7 You will see a thousand falling by your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes will you see the reward of the evil-doers.
9 Because you have said, I am in the hands of the Lord, the Most High is my safe resting-place;
10 No evil will come on you, and no disease will come near your tent.
11 For he will give you into the care of his angels to keep you wherever you go.
12 In their hands they will keep you up, so that your foot may not be crushed against a stone.
13 You will put your foot on the lion and the snake; the young lion and the great snake will be crushed under your feet.
14 Because he has given me his love, I will take him out of danger: I will put him in a place of honour, because he has kept my name in his heart.
15 When his cry comes up to me, I will give him an answer: I will be with him in trouble; I will make him free from danger and give him honour.
16 With long life will he be rewarded; and I will let him see my salvation.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 91
Commentary on Psalms 91 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
Talismanic Song in Time of War and Pestilence
The primeval song is followed by an anonymous song (inscribed by the lxx without any warrant τῷ Δαυίδ ), the time of whose composition cannot be determined; and it is only placed in this order because the last verse accords with the last verse but one of Ps 90. There the revelation of Jahve's work is prayed for, and here Jahve promises: I will grant him to see My salvation ; the “work of Jahve” is His realized “salvation.” The two Psalms also have other points of contact, e.g., in the מעון referred to God (vid., Symbolae , p. 60).
In this Psalm, the Invocavit Psalm of the church, which praises the protecting and rescuing grace which he who believingly takes refuge in God experiences in all times of danger and distress,
(Note: Hence in J. Shabbath 8, col. 2, and Midrash Shocher tob on Psalms 91:1 and elsewhere, it is called, together with Psalms 3:1-8, ( פגעים ) שיר פגועין , a song of occurrences, i.e., a protective (or talismanic) song in times of dangers that may befall one, just as Sebald Heyden's Psalm-song, “He who is in the protection of the Most High and resigns himself to God,” is inscribed “Preservative against the pestilence.”)
the relation of Psalms 91:2 to Psalms 91:1 meets us at the very beginning as a perplexing riddle. If we take Psalms 91:1 as a clause complete in itself, then it is tautological. If we take אמר in Psalms 91:2 as a participle (Jerome, dicens ) instead of אמר , ending with Pathach because a construct from (cf. Psalms 94:9; Psalms 136:6), then the participial subject would have a participial predicate: “He who sitteth is saying,” which is inelegant and also improbable, since אמר in other instances is always the 1st pers. fut . If we take אמר as 1st pers. fut . and Psalms 91:1 as an apposition of the subject expressed in advance: as such an one who sitteth.... I say, then we stumble against יתלונן ; this transition of the participle to the finite verb, especially without the copula ( וּבצל ), is confusing. If, however, we go on and read further into the Psalm, we find that the same difficulty as to the change of person recurs several times later on, just as in the opening. Olshausen, Hupfeld, and Hitzig get rid of this difficulty by all sorts of conjectures. But a reason for this abrupt change of the person is that dramatic arrangement recognised even in the Targum, although awkwardly indicated, which, however, as first of all clearly discerned by J. D. Michaelis and Maurer. There are, to wit, two voices that speak (as in Psalms 121:1-8), and at last the voice of Jahve comes in as a third. His closing utterance, rich in promise, forms, perhaps not unaccidentally, a seven-line strophe. Whether the Psalm came also to be executed in liturgical use thus with several voices, perhaps by three choirs, we cannot tell; but the poet certainly laid it out dramatically, as the translation represents it. In spite of the many echoes of earlier models, it is one of the freshest and most beautiful Psalms, resembling the second part of Isaiah in its light-winged, richly coloured, and transparent diction.
As the concealing One, God is called עליון , the inaccessibly high One; and as the shadowing One שׁדּי , the invincibly almighty One. Faith, however, calls Him by His covenant name ( Heilsname ) יהוה and, with the suffix of appropriation, אלהי ( my God). In connection with Psalms 91:1 we are reminded of the expressions of the Book of Job, Job 39:28, concerning the eagle's building its nest in its eyrie. According to the accentuation, Psalms 91:2 ought to be rendered with Geier, “ Dicit: in Domino meo (or Domini) latibulum , etc.” But the combination אמר לה is more natural, since the language of address follows in both halves of the verse.
יקושׁ , as in Proverbs 6:5; Jeremiah 5:26, is the dullest toned from for יקושׁ or יוקשׁ , Psalms 124:7. What is meant is death, or “he who has the power of death,” Hebrews 2:14, cf. 2 Timothy 2:26. “The snare of the fowler” is a figure for the peril of one's life, Ecclesiastes 9:12. In connection with Psalms 91:4 we have to call to mind Deuteronomy 32:11 : God protects His own as an eagle with its large strong wing. אברה is nom. unitatis , a pinion, to אבר , Isaiah 40:31; and the Hiph . הסך , from סכך , with the dative of the object, like the Kal in Psalms 140:8, signifies to afford covering, protection. The ἅπαξ λεγ . סחרה , according to its stem-word, is that which encompasses anything round about, and here beside צנּה , a weapon of defence surrounding the body on all sides; therefore not corresponding to the Syriac sḥārtā' , a stronghold ( סהר , מסגּרת ), but to Syriac sabrā' , a shield. The Targum translates צנּה with תּריסא , θυρεός , and סחרה with עגילא , which points to the round parma . אמתּו is the truth of the divine promises. This is an impregnable defence ( a ) in war-times, Psalms 91:5, against nightly surprises, and in the battle by day; ( b ) in times of pestilence, Psalms 91:6, when the destroying angel, who passes through and destroys the people (Exodus 11:4), can do no harm to him who has taken refuge in God, either in the midnight or the noontide hours. The future יהלך is a more rhythmical and, in the signification to rage (as of disease) and to vanish away, a more usual form instead of ילך . The lxx, Aquila, and Symmachus erroneously associate the demon name שׁד with ישׁוּד . It is a metaplastic (as if formed from שׁוּד morf de ) future for ישׁד , cf. Proverbs 29:6, ירוּן , and Isaiah 42:4, ירוּץ , frangetur . Psalms 91:7 a hypothetical protasis: si cadant ; the preterite would signify cediderint , Ew. §357, b . With רק that which will solely and exclusively take place is introduced. Burk correctly renders: nullam cum peste rem habebis, nisi ut videas . Only a spectator shalt thou be, and that with thine own eyes, being they self inaccessible and left to survive, conscious that thou thyself art a living one in contrast with those who are dying. And thou shalt behold, like Israel on the night of the Passover, the just retribution to which the evil-doers fall a prey. שׁלּמה , recompense, retribution, is a hapaxlegomenon, cf. שׁלּמים , Isaiah 34:8. Ascribing the glory to God, the second voice confirms or ratifies these promises.
The first voice continues this ratification, and goes on weaving these promises still further: thou hast made the Most High thy dwelling-place ( מעון ); there shall not touch thee.... The promises rise ever higher and higher and sound more glorious. The Pual אנּה , prop. to be turned towards, is equivalent to “to befall one,” as in Proverbs 12:21; Aquila well renders: ου ̓ μεταχθήσεται πρὸς σὲ κακία . לא־יקרב reminds one of Isaiah 54:14, where אל follows; here it is בּ , as in Judges 19:13. The angel guardianship which is apportioned to him who trusts in God appears in Psalms 91:11, Psalms 91:12 as a universal fact, not as a solitary fact and occurring only in extraordinary instances. Haec est vera miraculorum ratio , observes Brentius on this passage, quod semel aut iterum manifeste revelent ea quae Deus semper abscondite operatur . In ישּׂאוּנך the suffix has been combined with the full form of the future. The lxx correctly renders Psalms 91:12 : μήποτε προσκόψῃς πρὸς λίθον τὸν πόδα σου , for נגף everywhere else, and therefore surely here too and in Proverbs 3:23, has a transitive signification, not an intransitive (Aquila, Jerome, Symmachus), cf. Jeremiah 13:16. Psalms 91:13 tells what he who trusts in God has power to do by virtue of this divine succour through the medium of angels. The promise calls to mind Mark 16:18, ὄφεις ἀροῦσι , they shall take up serpents, but still more Luke 10:19 : Behold, I give you power to tread ἐπάνω ὄφεων καὶ σκορπίων καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ . They are all kinds of destructive powers belonging to nature, and particularly to the spirit-world, that are meant. They are called lions and fierce lions from the side of their open power, which threatens destruction, and adders and dragons from the side of their venomous secret malice. In Psalms 91:13 it is promised that the man who trusts in God shall walk on over these monsters, these malignant foes, proud in God and unharmed; in Psalms 91:13 , that he shall tread them to the ground (cf. Romans 16:20). That which the divine voice of promise now says at the close of the Psalm is, so far as the form is concerned, an echo taken from Ps 50. Psalms 50:15, Psalms 50:23 of that Psalm sound almost word for word the same. Genesis 46:4, and more especially Isaiah 63:9, are to be compared on Psalms 50:15 . In B. Taanith 16 a it is inferred from this passage that God compassionates the suffering ones whom He is compelled by reason of His holiness to chasten and prove. The “salvation of Jahve,” as in Psalms 50:23, is the full reality of the divine purpose (or counsel) of mercy. To live to see the final glory was the rapturous thought of the Old Testament hope, and in the apostolic age, of the New Testament hope also.