Psalms 46:1

Psalm 46

For the music director; by the Korahites; according to the alamoth style; a song.

46:1 God is our strong refuge;

he is truly our helper in times of trouble.

Isaiah 50:7-9

50:7 But the sovereign Lord helps me,

so I am not humiliated.

For that reason I am steadfastly resolved;

I know I will not be put to shame.

50:8 The one who vindicates me is close by.

Who dares to argue with me? Let us confront each other!

Who is my accuser? Let him challenge me!

50:9 Look, the sovereign Lord helps me.

Who dares to condemn me?

Look, all of them will wear out like clothes;

a moth will eat away at them.

Hebrews 13:6

13:6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 10 

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.

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.

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.”

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 (mÿod, “greatly”) has an emphasizing function.

tn Heb “Therefore I set my face like flint.”

tn Heb “Let us stand together!”

tn Heb “Who is the master of my judgment?”

tn Heb “let him approach me”; NAB, NIV “Let him confront me.”

tc Some important mss (א* C* P 0285vid 33 1175 1739 pc lat) lack καί (kai), but because the omission conforms to the wording of Ps 118:6 (117:6 LXX), it is suspect.

10 sn A quotation from Ps 118:6.