Psalms 11:1-6

The LORD a Refuge and Defense.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

1 In the LORD I ¹take refuge; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your ²mountain;

2 For, behold, the wicked ³bend the bow, They ⁴make ready their arrow upon the string To ⁵shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

3 If the ⁶foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?"

4 The LORD is in His ⁷holy temple; the LORD'S ⁸throne is in heaven; His ⁹eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

5 The LORD ¹⁰tests the righteous and ¹¹the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates.

6 Upon the wicked He will ¹²rain snares; ¹³Fire and brimstone and ¹⁴burning wind will be the portion of ¹⁵their cup.

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Psalms 11:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, a Psalm of David. The word "sheminith" is used in the title of Psalm 6:1, and signifies "eighth"; and intends either the eighth note, to which the psalm was sung, or rather the harp of eight chords, to which it was set, as the Targum and Jarchi interpret it. Some Jewish writers {y} understand it of the times of the Messiah; and the Syriac version entitles the psalm, "an accusation of the wicked, and a prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah:" and the Arabic version says, it is concerning the end of the world, which shall be in the eighth day; and concerning the coming of the Messiah: but Arnobius interprets it of the Lord's day.

{y} Sepher Lekach Shechachah apud Caphtor, fol. 64. 1. & Ceseph Misnah in Maimon. Hilch. Teshuvah, c. 9.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 15

1. Psalms 2:12
2. Psalms 121:1
3. Psalms 7:12; Psalms 37:14
4. Psalms 64:3
5. Psalms 64:4
6. Psalms 82:5; Psalms 87:1; Psalms 119:152
7. Psalms 18:6; Micah 1:2; Habakkuk 2:20
8. Psalms 103:19; Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:34; Revelation 4:2
9. Psalms 33:18; Psalms 34:15, 16
10. Genesis 22:1; Psalms 34:19; James 1:12
11. Psalms 5:5
12. Psalms 18:13, 14
13. Genesis 19:24; Ezekiel 38:22
14. Jeremiah 4:11, 12
15. Psalms 75:8

Footnotes 3

[a]. Or "fixed"
[b]. Lit LORD, His throne
[c]. Or "coals of fire"