Psalms 11:1-6

1 I've already run for dear life straight to the arms of God. So why would I run away now when you say,

2 the evil bows are bent, the wicked arrows Aimed to shoot under cover of darkness at every heart open to God.

3 The bottom's dropped out of the country; good people don't have a chance"?

4 But God hasn't moved to the mountains; his holy address hasn't changed. He's in charge, as always, his eyes taking everything in, his eyelids Unblinking, examining Adam's unruly brood inside and out, not missing a thing.

5 He tests the good and the bad alike; if anyone cheats, God's outraged.

6 Fail the test and you're out, out in a hail of firestones, Drinking from a canteen filled with hot desert wind.

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.