Psalm 46/Story Behind/Expanded Paraphrase

Text (Hebrew)	Verse	Expanded Paraphrase
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח עַֽל־עֲלָמ֥וֹת שִֽׁיר׃	1	For the music director. Written by the Korahites. The psalm is to be performed as young women. A psalm.
אֱלֹהִ֣ים לָ֭נוּ מַחֲסֶ֣ה וָעֹ֑ז עֶזְרָ֥ה בְ֝צָר֗וֹת נִמְצָ֥א מְאֹֽד׃	2	God is a refuge and stronghold for us. He is a place that offers us protection and shelters us from any danger, threat, or trouble. In him, we are securely hidden from our enemies. Moreover, even if political allies may desert us, he is readily available to us, as a help, when we are in great trouble.
עַל־כֵּ֣ן לֹא־נִ֭ירָא בְּהָמִ֣יר אָ֑רֶץ וּבְמ֥וֹט הָ֝רִ֗ים בְּלֵ֣ב יַמִּֽים׃	3	Therefore, we will not fear though the earth change its appearance, and the mountains topple into the heart of the deepest sea.
יֶהֱמ֣וּ יֶחְמְר֣וּ מֵימָ֑יו	4	Though its waters foam in rage and increase in strength, like wine bubbling up during fermentation. They may want to see us reel and stagger as from wine, yet we will not be afraid. Though mountains quake at the sea’s surging, and even then we will not be afraid. Selah.
נָהָ֗ר פְּלָגָ֗יו יְשַׂמְּח֥וּ עִיר־אֱלֹהִ֑ים קְ֝דֹ֗שׁ מִשְׁכְּנֵ֥י עֶלְיֽוֹן׃	5	Moreover, God has prepared us for the fiercest attack from enemies. Like other kings, he has engineered a canal system to provide water to his city so that we will be nourished and defended during siege. That is why we have a river whose streams rush to the city of God and gladden it — they run to the city of God which is the holy dwelling of the Most High.
אֱלֹהִ֣ים בְּ֭קִרְבָּהּ בַּל־תִּמּ֑וֹט יַעְזְרֶ֥הָ אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לִפְנ֥וֹת בֹּֽקֶר׃	6	God is in the very midst of his city. Therefore, it cannot be moved. When enemies come and attack us in the morning, God meets and repels their strike. God helps his city at the approach of morning.
הָמ֣וּ ג֭וֹיִם מָ֣טוּ מַמְלָכ֑וֹת נָתַ֥ן בְּ֝קוֹל֗וֹ תָּמ֥וּג אָֽרֶץ׃	7	[When] nations raged like mighty chaotic waters, [and] kingdoms fell down like mountains into the deepest sea, [then] he thundered with his voice like a storm, [then] the whole earth would melt!
יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת עִמָּ֑נוּ	8	YHWH, [the God] of heavenly Hosts, is with us. The God of Jacob is a fortress for us.He is our most reliable defensive structure in which we can find shelter from hostile forces. Selah.
לְֽכוּ־ חֲ֭זוּ מִפְעֲל֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֖ם שַׁמּ֣וֹת בָּאָֽרֶץ׃	9	Come! Inspect this massive battlefield! Perceive the works of YHWH who has wrought great devastation in the land.
מַשְׁבִּ֥ית מִלְחָמוֹת֮ עַד־קְצֵ֪ה הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ קֶ֣שֶׁת יְ֭שַׁבֵּר וְקִצֵּ֣ץ חֲנִ֑ית עֲ֝גָל֗וֹת יִשְׂרֹ֥ף בָּאֵֽשׁ׃	10	See how God, the one who terminates wars to the end of the earth destroys his enemies' weapons. Look how he breaks the bow and snaps the spear. See how he burns the enemy's food supplies heaped on transport wagons. See how they are engulfed in fire.
הַרְפּ֣וּ וּ֭דְעוּ כִּי־אָנֹכִ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים אָר֥וּם בַּ֝גּוֹיִ֗ם אָר֥וּם בָּאָֽרֶץ׃	11	And now hear what our God commands: "Be still and acknowledge that I am God! Surrender is the only option when you are fighting against my people. My city and I are indestructible. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted throughout the earth.”
יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת עִמָּ֑נוּ מִשְׂגָּֽב־לָ֝נוּ אֱלֹהֵ֖י יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃	12	YHWH, [the God] of heavenly Hosts, is with us. The God of Jacob is a fortress for us. He is our most reliable defensive structure in which we can find shelter from hostile forces. Selah.