Psalm 91

"The sheltered one"

Purpose: To promise the king protection and victory in the face of enemy attacks

Content: You say: "YHWH, you are my refuge!" and he will rescue you.
You will not be afraid – come what may – because he says: "He has clung to me, so I will give him his fill of long life."

Message: Despite appearances, the king need not fear, because YHWH gives him victory.

Author: Anonymous

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Exegetical Issues Video

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Overview

Translation

Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 91.

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1. The one living in the shelter of the Most High,

who rests in the shade of the Almighty,

2. says to YHWH: “You are my refuge and fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

3. For he will rescue you from a hunter’s trap

and from a destructive plague.

4. He will cover you with his pinion;

and you will find refuge under his wings.

His faithfulness will be a shield and a wall.

5. You will not be afraid of danger of the night

or of the arrow that flies during the day

6. or of the plague that moves in the deep darkness

or of the disaster that devastates at noon.

7. Though a thousand fall at your side

and ten thousand at your right side,

to you it will not come near.

8. Rather, you will look with your eyes;

and you will see wicked people’s punishment.

9. For [you say]: “YHWH, you are my refuge.”

You have made the Most High your home.

10. Harm will not come to you,

and disease will not reach your home,

11. because he will order his angels concerning you

to protect you in all of your ways.

12. They will carry you in their arms

so that your foot does not stumble on any stones.

13. You will tread upon a lion and a viper;

you will trample a young lion and a serpent.

14. For he has clung to me, so I will rescue him;

I will keep him safe because he knows my name.

15. He cries out to me, so I will answer him.

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and I will honour him.

16. I will give him his fill of long life;

and I will show him my salvation.

The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.

For links to other translations of Psalm 91, click here.

Verse-by-Verse

Click the link to view all of Psalm 91 Verse-by-Verse, or click on an individual verse below.

• v. 1
• v. 2
• v. 3
• v. 4
• v. 5
• v. 6
• v. 7
• v. 8
• v. 9
• v. 10
• v. 11
• v. 12
• v. 13
• v. 14
• v. 15
• v. 16

Layer-by-Layer

Psalm Overview

• Grammar
• Semantics
• Story behind the Psalm
• Discourse
• Poetics

Exegetical Issues

• The Grammar and Participants of Ps. 91:2 (Draft)
• The Discourse of Ps. 91 (Draft)
• The Grammar of Ps. 91:9 (Draft)