18:2 The Lord is my high ridge, 1 my stronghold, 2 my deliverer.
My God is my rocky summit where 3 I take shelter, 4
my shield, the horn that saves me, 5 and my refuge. 6
For the music director; by the Korahites; according to the alamoth style; 8 a song.
46:1 God is our strong refuge; 9
he is truly our helper in times of trouble. 10
46:2 For this reason we do not fear 11 when the earth shakes, 12
and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, 13
46:3 when its waves 14 crash 15 and foam,
and the mountains shake 16 before the surging sea. 17 (Selah)
46:4 The river’s channels bring joy to the city of God, 18
the special, holy dwelling place of 19 the sovereign One. 20
46:5 God lives within it, 21 it cannot be moved. 22
God rescues it 23 at the break of dawn. 24
46:6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms are overthrown. 25
God 26 gives a shout, 27 the earth dissolves. 28
46:7 The Lord who commands armies is on our side! 29
The God of Jacob 30 is our protector! 31 (Selah)
46:8 Come! Witness the exploits 32 of the Lord,
who brings devastation to the earth! 33
46:9 He brings an end to wars throughout the earth; 34
he shatters 35 the bow and breaks 36 the spear;
he burns 37 the shields with fire. 38
46:10 He says, 39 “Stop your striving and recognize 40 that I am God!
I will be exalted 41 over 42 the nations! I will be exalted over 43 the earth!”
46:11 The Lord who commands armies is on our side! 44
The God of Jacob 45 is our protector! 46 (Selah)
61:3 Indeed, 47 you are 48 my shelter,
a strong tower that protects me from the enemy. 49
91:1 As for you, the one who lives 51 in the shelter of the sovereign One, 52
and resides in the protective shadow 53 of the mighty king 54 –
91:2 I say this about the Lord, my shelter and my stronghold,
my God in whom I trust –
18:10 The name of the Lord 55 is like 56 a strong tower; 57
the righteous person runs 58 to it and is set safely on high. 59
33:16 This is the person who will live in a secure place; 60
he will find safety in the rocky, mountain strongholds; 61
he will have food
and a constant supply of water.
33:21 Instead the Lord will rule there as our mighty king. 62
Rivers and wide streams will flow through it; 63
no war galley will enter; 64
no large ships will sail through. 65
51:5 I am ready to vindicate, 66
I am ready to deliver, 67
I will establish justice among the nations. 68
The coastlands 69 wait patiently for me;
they wait in anticipation for the revelation of my power. 70
51:6 Look up at the sky!
Look at the earth below!
For the sky will dissipate 71 like smoke,
and the earth will wear out like clothes;
its residents will die like gnats.
But the deliverance I give 72 is permanent;
the vindication I provide 73 will not disappear. 74
51:16 I commission you 75 as my spokesman; 76
I cover you with the palm of my hand, 77
to establish 78 the sky and to found the earth,
to say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’” 79
1 sn My high ridge. This metaphor pictures God as a rocky, relatively inaccessible summit, where one would be able to find protection from enemies. See 1 Sam 23:25, 28.
2 sn My stronghold. David often found safety in such strongholds. See 1 Sam 22:4-5; 24:22; 2 Sam 5:9, 17; 23:14.
3 tn Or “in whom.”
4 sn Take shelter. “Taking shelter” in the Lord is an idiom for seeking his protection. Seeking his protection presupposes and even demonstrates the subject’s loyalty to the Lord. In the psalms those who “take shelter” in the Lord are contrasted with the wicked and equated with those who love, fear and serve the Lord (Pss 5:11-12; 31:17-20; 34:21-22).
5 tn Heb “the horn of my salvation”; or “my saving horn.”
6 tn Or “my elevated place.” The parallel version of this psalm in 2 Sam 22:3 adds at this point, “my refuge, my savior, [you who] save me from violence.”
7 sn Psalm 46. In this so-called “Song Of Zion” God’s people confidently affirm that they are secure because the great warrior-king dwells within Jerusalem and protects it from the nations that cause such chaos in the earth. A refrain (vv. 7, 11) concludes the song’s two major sections.
8 sn The meaning of the Hebrew term עֲלָמוֹת (alamoth, which means “young women”) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. Cf. 1 Chr 15:20.
9 tn Heb “our refuge and strength,” which is probably a hendiadys meaning “our strong refuge” (see Ps 71:7). Another option is to translate, “our refuge and source of strength.”
10 tn Heb “a helper in times of trouble he is found [to be] greatly.” The perfect verbal form has a generalizing function here. The adverb מְאֹד (mÿ’od, “greatly”) has an emphasizing function.
11 tn The imperfect is taken in a generalizing sense (cf. NEB) because the situation described in vv. 2-3 is understood as symbolizing typical world conditions. In this case the imperfect draws attention to the typical nature of the response. The covenant community characteristically responds with confidence, not fear. Another option is to take the situation described as purely hypothetical. In this case one might translate, “We will not fear, even though the earth should shake” (cf. NIV, NRSV).
12 tn The Hiphil infinitival form is normally taken to mean “when [the earth] is altered,” being derived from מוּר (mur, “to change”). In this case the Hiphil would be intransitive, as in Ps 15:4. HALOT 560 s.v. II מור emends the form to a Niphal and derives it from a homonymic root מוּר attested in Arabic with the meaning “shake.”
13 tn Heb “heart of the seas.” The plural may be used for emphasis, pointing to the deepest sea. Note that the next verse uses a singular pronoun (“its waters,” “its swelling”) in referring back to the plural noun.
14 tn Heb “its waters.”
15 tn Or “roar.”
16 tn The three imperfect verbal forms in v. 3 draw attention to the characteristic nature of the activity described.
17 tn Heb “at its swelling.” The Hebrew word often means “pride.” If the sea is symbolic of hostile nations, then this may be a case of double entendre. The surging, swelling sea symbolizes the proud, hostile nations. On the surface the psalmist appears to be depicting a major natural catastrophe, perhaps a tidal wave. If so, then the situation would be hypothetical. However, the repetition of the verbs הָמָה (hamah, “crash; roar,” v. 3) and מוֹט (mot, “shake,” v. 2) in v. 6, where nations/kingdoms “roar” and “shake,” suggests that the language of vv. 2-3 is symbolic and depicts the upheaval that characterizes relationships between the nations of the earth. As some nations (symbolized by the surging, chaotic waters) show hostility, others (symbolized by the mountains) come crashing down to destruction. The surging waters are symbolic of chaotic forces in other poetic texts (see, for example, Isa 17:12; Jer 51:42) and mountains can symbolize strong kingdoms (see, for example, Jer 51:25).
18 tn Heb “A river, its channels cause the city of God to be glad.”
19 tn Heb “the holy [place] of the dwelling places of.” The adjective “holy” is used here in a substantival manner and placed in construct with the following noun (see GKC 428 §132.c). Origen’s transliterated text assumes the reading קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh, “holiness; holy place”), while the LXX assumes a Piel verbal form קִדֵּשׁ (qidesh, “makes holy”) and takes the following form as “his dwelling place.” The plural form מִשְׁכְּנֵי (mishkÿney, “dwelling places of”) is probably a plural of degree, emphasizing the special character of this dwelling place. See GKC 397 §124.b. The form stands as an appositional genitive in relation to the preceding construct noun.
20 tn Heb “Most High.” This divine title (עֶלְיוֹן, ’elyon) pictures God as the exalted ruler of the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. See especially Pss 7:17; 9:2; 18:13; 21:7; 47:2.
21 tn Heb “God [is] within her.” The feminine singular pronoun refers to the city mentioned in v. 4.
22 tn Another option is to translate the imperfect verbal form as future, “it will not be upended.” Even if one chooses this option, the future tense must be understood in a generalizing sense. The verb מוֹט (mot), translated “upended” here, is used in v. 2 of the mountains “tumbling” into the seas and in v. 6 of nations being “upended.” By way of contrast, Jerusalem, God’s dwelling place, is secure and immune from such turmoil and destruction.
23 tn Or “helps her.” The imperfect draws attention to the generalizing character of the statement.
24 tn Heb “at the turning of morning.” (For other uses of the expression see Exod 14:27 and Judg 19:26).
25 tn Heb “nations roar, kingdoms shake.” The Hebrew verb הָמָה (hamah, “roar, be in uproar”) is used in v. 3 of the waves crashing, while the verb מוֹט (mot, “overthrown”) is used in v. 2 of mountains tumbling into the sea (see also v. 5, where the psalm affirms that Jerusalem “cannot be moved”). The repetition of the verbs suggests that the language of vv. 2-3 is symbolic and depicts the upheaval that characterizes relationships between the nations of the earth. As some nations (symbolized by the surging, chaotic waters) show hostility, others (symbolized by the mountains) come crashing down to destruction. The surging waters are symbolic of chaotic forces in other poetic texts (see, for example, Isa 17:12; Jer 51:42) and mountains can symbolize strong kingdoms (see, for example, Jer 51:25).
26 tn Heb “He.” God is the obvious referent here (see v. 5), and has been specified in the translation for clarity.
27 tn Heb “offers his voice.” In theophanic texts the phrase refers to God’s thunderous shout which functions as a battle cry (see Pss 18:13; 68:33).
28 tn Or “melts.” See Amos 9:5. The image depicts the nation’s helplessness before Jerusalem’s defender, who annihilates their armies (see vv. 8-9). The imperfect verbal form emphasizes the characteristic nature of the action described.
29 tn Heb “the
30 tn That is, Israel, or Judah (see Ps 20:1).
31 tn Heb “our elevated place” (see Pss 9:9; 18:2).
32 sn In this context the Lord’s exploits are military in nature (see vv. 8b-9).
33 tn Heb “who sets desolations in the earth” (see Isa 13:9). The active participle describes God’s characteristic activity as a warrior.
34 tn Heb “[the] one who causes wars to cease unto the end of the earth.” The participle continues the description begun in v. 8b and indicates that this is the
35 tn The verb שָׁבַר (shavar, “break”) appears in the Piel here (see Ps 29:5). In the OT it occurs thirty-six times in the Piel, always with multiple objects (the object is either a collective singular or grammatically plural or dual form). The Piel may highlight the repetition of the pluralative action, or it may suggest an intensification of action, indicating repeated action comprising a whole, perhaps with the nuance “break again and again, break in pieces.” Another option is to understand the form as resultative: “make broken” (see IBHS 404-7 §24.3). The imperfect verbal form carries on and emphasizes the generalizing nature of the description.
36 tn The perfect verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive carries along the generalizing emphasis of the preceding imperfect.
37 tn The imperfect verbal form carries on and emphasizes the generalizing nature of the description.
38 tn Heb “wagons he burns with fire.” Some read “chariots” here (cf. NASB), but the Hebrew word refers to wagons or carts, not chariots, elsewhere in the OT. In this context, where military weapons are mentioned, it is better to revocalize the form as עֲגִלוֹת (’agilot, “round shields”), a word which occurs only here in the OT, but is attested in later Hebrew and Aramaic.
39 tn The words “he says” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
40 tn Heb “do nothing/be quiet (see 1 Sam 15:16) and know.” This statement may be addressed to the hostile nations, indicating they should cease their efforts to destroy God’s people, or to Judah, indicating they should rest secure in God’s protection. Since the psalm is an expression of Judah’s trust and confidence, it is more likely that the words are directed to the nations, who are actively promoting chaos and are in need of a rebuke.
41 tn Elsewhere in the psalms the verb רוּם (rum, “be exalted”) when used of God, refers to his exalted position as king (Pss 18:46; 99:2; 113:4; 138:6) and/or his self-revelation as king through his mighty deeds of deliverance (Pss 21:13; 57:5, 11).
42 tn Or “among.”
43 tn Or “in.”
44 tn Heb “the
45 tn That is, Israel, or Judah (see Ps 20:1).
46 tn Heb “our elevated place” (see Pss 9:9; 18:2).
47 tn Or “for.”
48 tn Or “have been.”
49 tn Heb “a strong tower from the face of an enemy.”
50 sn Psalm 91. In this psalm an individual (perhaps a priest) addresses one who has sought shelter in the Lord and assures him that God will protect him from danger (vv. 1-13). In vv. 14-16 God himself promises to keep his loyal follower safe.
51 tn Heb “[O] one who lives.”
52 tn Traditionally “the Most High.”
53 sn The Lord is compared here to a bird who protects its young under the shadow of its wings (see v. 4).
54 sn The divine name used here is “Shaddai” (שַׁדַּי, shadday; see also Ps 68:14). Shaddai (or El Shaddai) is the mighty king (sovereign judge) of the world who grants life/blesses and kills/judges. In Genesis he blesses the patriarchs with fertility and promises numerous descendants. Outside Genesis he both blesses/protects and takes away life/happiness.
55 sn The “name of the
56 tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied for the sake of clarity.
57 tn Heb “a tower of strength,” with “strength” regarded as attributive by most English versions. The metaphor “strong tower” indicates that God is a secure refuge. The figure is qualified in the second colon.
58 sn The metaphor of “running” to the
59 tn Heb “is high” or “is inaccessible.” This military-type expression stresses the effect of the trust – security, being out of danger (see HALOT 1305 s.v. שׂגב). Other scriptures will supply the ways that God actually protects people who trust him.
60 tn Heb “he [in the] exalted places will live.”
61 tn Heb “mountain strongholds, cliffs [will be] his elevated place.”
62 tn Heb “But there [as] a mighty one [will be] the Lord for us.”
63 tn Heb “a place of rivers, streams wide of hands [i.e., on both sides].”
64 tn Heb “a ship of rowing will not go into it.”
65 tn Heb “and a mighty ship will not pass through it.”
66 tn Heb “my righteousness [or “vindication”] is near.”
67 tn Heb “my deliverance goes forth.”
68 tn Heb “and my arms will judge [on behalf of] nations.”
69 tn Or “islands” (NIV); TEV “Distant lands.”
70 tn Heb “for my arm” (so NIV, NRSV).
71 tn Heb “will be torn in pieces.” The perfect indicates the certitude of the event, from the Lord’s rhetorical perspective.
72 tn Heb “my deliverance.” The same Hebrew word can also be translated “salvation” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); cf. CEV “victory.”
73 tn Heb “my righteousness [or “vindication”].”
74 tn Heb “will not be shattered [or “dismayed”].”
75 tn The addressee (second masculine singular, as in vv. 13, 15) in this verse is unclear. The exiles are addressed in the immediately preceding verses (note the critical tone of vv. 12-13 and the reference to the exiles in v. 14). However, it seems unlikely that they are addressed in v. 16, for the addressee appears to be commissioned to tell Zion, who here represents the restored exiles, “you are my people.” The addressee is distinct from the exiles. The language of v. 16a is reminiscent of 49:2 and 50:4, where the Lord’s special servant says he is God’s spokesman and effective instrument. Perhaps the Lord, having spoken to the exiles in vv. 1-15, now responds to this servant, who spoke just prior to this in 50:4-11.
76 tn Heb “I place my words in your mouth.”
77 tn Heb “with the shadow of my hand.”
78 tc The Hebrew text has לִנְטֹעַ (lintoa’, “to plant”). Several scholars prefer to emend this form to לִנְטֹת (lintot) from נָטָה (natah, “to stretch out”); see v. 13, as well as 40:22; 42:5; 44:24; 45:12; cf. NAB, NCV, NRSV. However, since the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa, LXX (and Aquila and Symmachus), and Vulgate support the MT reading, there is no need to emend the form. The interpretation is clear enough: Yahweh fixed the sky in its place.
79 tn The infinitives in v. 16b are most naturally understood as indicating the purpose of the divine actions described in v. 16a. The relationship of the third infinitive to the commission is clear enough – the Lord has made the addressee (his special servant?) his spokesman so that the latter might speak encouraging words to those in Zion. But how do the first two infinitives relate? The text seems to indicate that the Lord has commissioned the addressee so that the latter might create the universe! Perhaps creation imagery is employed metaphorically here to refer to the transformation that Jerusalem will experience (see 65:17-18).